Parks & Recreation - July 2016

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Super Parks and Superheroes Page 38

The Power of Play | 2016 NRPA Annual Conference Education | Every Kid in a Park

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contents july 2016 volume 51 | number 7 | www.parksandrecreation.org

COVER STORY

2016 NRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE SECTION

38 Celebrating Park and

Recreation’s Superheroes

44 The Power of Play

NRPA members and member agencies are putting their superpowers to work creating spaces for communities to play, exercise, learn and bond during Park and Recreation Month Roxanne Sutton

Are you getting your daily dose?

Paula M. Jacoby-Garrett

48 Cutting-Edge Conservation Education 49 2016 Gold Medal Finalists Announced 50 2016 NRPA Annual Conference:

Newbie Knowledge Samantha Bartram

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contents july

departments 9 Letters

Every Kid in a Park 10 Where Work Meets Play: A Research-Based Approach to the Design and Evaluation of Smale Riverfront Park 12 From the Director’s Chair 16 NRPA Connect Hot Topics 18 Notable News 18

19 By the Numbers Americans’ Favorite Summer Outdoor Activities

20 Member to Member Colorado Springs’ Comeback Karen Palus, CPRP, CYSA

52 NRPA Update Data-Based Park and Recreation Stories 52 Embracing Data in Operational Decision-Making 54 Facing Fears 56 Member Benefit: Understanding Participant Waiver/Releases and Consent Forms 57 Test Your Park and Recreation Knowledge 57 Member Spotlight: Jenny Hagauer 58 Professional Development Calendar 60

62 Operations Riverfront Renaissance in Nashville 62 Regulating Air Quality for Indoor Pools 64

66 Products 68 Marketplace 71 Reader Service and Advertiser Index 72 Park Bench Weed Busters Sonia Myrick

Parks & Recreation

6 Perspectives Firmly Grounded, Looking to the Future Barbara Tulipane, CAE

8 Editor’s Letter

10 Community Center

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columns

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Safe Spaces Gina Mullins-Cohen

22 Advocacy Technology + Recreation = Prime Out-of-School Time Kevin O’Hara

24 Law Review Recreational Use Statutes in State Supreme Courts James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

30 Future Leaders Success Through the Lens of ‘The Greatest’ Neelay Bhatt

32 Conservation Design Is Key to Making Recycling Work Alec Cooley

34 Health and Wellness Returning Youth Sports to the Kids Joseph Lovell

36 Social Equity GreenLatinos Host Historic National Summit at Grand Teton National Park Mark Magaña and Robert García

Page 30

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P E R S P E C T I V E S A M E S S A G E F R O M N R PA’ S L E A D E R S

Firmly Grounded, Looking to the Future As NRPA’s fiscal year turns, it is a good time to reflect on what we have accomplished and where we are going next. The bottom line is that we have much to celebrate. We met and exceeded every major goal of our business and strategic plans while providing more services, resources and funding to our members than ever before. NRPA is breaking new ground in demonstrating the national economic, environmental and social impacts of parks and recreation.

NRPA’s total revenue for FY16 will top a record $19 million. We raised more than $7 million from a variety of sources, the highest amount ever, and almost $5 million will benefit the field via direct grants. The NRPA budget is predicated on implementing an annual business plan that includes more than 30 quantifiable objectives, including urban initiatives and health initiatives, conservation, research, member services, education, the Annual Conference, PRORAGIS and partnerships. NPRA’s operating revenues have grown an average of 8 percent per year, while our expenses have only increased on average 3.2 percent per year.

Keeping expenses low, however, should not be the goal if it is done at the expense of investing in the organization. Making strategic investments in our future takes discipline and faith when the return is not immediately apparent. For example, we invested in PRORAGIS over the course of several years, yet only recently have we begun to see measurable, quantifiable results.

High-quality NRPA-produced research has raised our visibility and credibility. The 2016 NRPA Field Report is considered the industry’s most comprehensive set of park and recreation agency performance metrics while NRPA’s agency-tailored Facility Market Reports combine U.S. Census Bureau data and market research to allow agencies to examine detailed demographic information about the communities they serve. The Economic Impact of Local Parks report made national news in its findings that local parks generated $140 billion in economic activity and supported almost 1 million jobs.

In the past year, we have continued to demonstrate deep commitment to our members by being innovative and spotting trends. From the content of our award-winning national publication, Parks & Recreation magazine, to our social media feeds, Open Space blog, professional networks, member communications, webinars, Innovation Labs and Annual Conference, NRPA members have never enjoyed such quality and depth of resources. The numbers are stunning — 85,000 clicks for Top Five and other email communications; 37,000 posts to NRPA Connect; 9,500 likes, shares and comments on Facebook posts; and 21,700 Open Space blog views.

NRPA’s membership is now at its highest level — more than 52,000 members with more than 1,000 Premier Agency members. We now have more than 20,000 Certified Park and Recreation Professionals!

So, what’s in the future? This year we laid the groundwork for an Individual Giving Campaign, a new initiative designed to fund our FY 17-20 Strategic Plan. This plan is intended to strengthen NRPA’s charitable mission while also benefiting the park and recreation professional. The goal is to create healthy, sustainable, more equitable communities.

Success will be achieved by implementing NRPA’s health and conservation programs, with a tight focus on underserved communities.

You will be hearing more about our goals in the coming months, but for now, it is time to celebrate our successes. It is because of you that we have been able to achieve so much.

BAR BAR A T ULIPAN E, C AE President and CEO 6

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2377 Belmont Ridge Rd. | Ashburn, VA 20148 2 703.858.0784 | www.nrpa.org

NRPA’S MISSION: To advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jack Kardys

Chair of the Board of Directors Susan Trautman, CPRP

Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department Miami, Florida

Great Rivers Greenway District St. Louis, Missouri

Chair-Elect Stephen Eckelberry Bartlett Park District Bartlett, Illinois

Past Chair Detrick L. Stanford, CPRP Clayton County Parks and Recreation Jonesboro, Georgia

Treasurer Neelay Bhatt

Michael Kelly Chicago Park District Chicago, Illinois

Brian Knapp NOVA Parks Fairfax, Virginia

Detrick L. Stanford, CPRP Clayton County Parks and Recreation Jonesboro, Georgia

Molly Stevens

PROS Consulting Indianapolis, Indiana

Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center Austin, Texas

Secretary Roslyn Johnson

William “Joe” Turner

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Greenbelt, Maryland

President and CEO Barbara Tulipane, CAE

Houston Parks and Recreation Houston, Texas

LIFE TRUSTEES Beverly D. Chrisman Lexington, South Carolina

National Recreation and Park Association Ashburn, Virginia

Anne S. Close

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James H. Evans

Leon T. Andrews

New York, New York

National League of Cities Washington, D.C.

Rosemary Hall Evans

Rebecca Benná, CPRP Five River Metro Parks Dayton, Ohio

Neelay Bhatt PROS Consulting Indianapolis, Indiana

Kevin Coyle

Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Earl T. Groves Gastonia, North Carolina

Charles E. Hartsoe, Ph.D. Richmond, Virginia

Harry G. Haskell Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Kathryn A. Porter

Jennifer Harnish

Perry J. Segura

Roslyn Johnson Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Greenbelt, Maryland

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6/8/16 10:20 AM 7 Parks & Recreation

EDITOR’S LET TER

Safe Spaces For millions of people, parks, open natural landscapes and inviting recreation centers have served as places of respite and restoration. These are places where we let down our guard and open our hearts and minds to the possibility of increased health and more meaningful connections.

Orlando, Florida’s Pulse nightclub was a similar refuge for its mostly LGBTQ, mostly Latino, patrons. It was a place to dance, laugh, talk and perhaps even fall in love. That sense of openness and security was shattered when Omar Mateen exacted his twisted vengeance June 12, murdering 49 people and injuring 53 others.

NRPA’s July 2016 Park and Recreation Month activities feature a superhero theme and characters customized to elevate our Three Pillars: Conservation, Health and Wellness, and Social Equity. The Green Guardian, Fit Twins and Captain Community are steadfast, ready to defend the principle of open access to parks and recreation for all. They are strong heroes protecting safe spaces, for all people, in all communities.

Park and Recreation Month is an opportunity to bond together and support our communities — to truly let our superpowers shine. Beginning on page 38, NRPA Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist Roxanne Sutton spotlights the winners and runners-up of our Park and Recreation Month cover contest and some real-life superheroes of parks and recreation, as nominated by their peers.

We’re approximately three months away from the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference — turn to page 44 to get the latest on the transformative power of play from author Paula M. Jacoby-Garrett, as well as what’s new in the area of conservation education and essential tips for first-time attendees from Conference veterans.

The superpowers of park and recreation professionals are as real and effective as any mystical enchantment or genetically enhanced bicep. We bring people together. We make connections — in health, well-being and across racial and demographic lines — where before there were none, in hopes that, even in the face of unspeakable violence and hatred, we will have the capacity to gather ourselves up and keep striving for better outcomes.

While it’s impossible to prevent every tragic act or heinous plot, it is possible to cultivate safe, supportive communities wherever we live and work. That’s what park and rec does, day in, day out, in times of both distress and peace.

GINA MULLINS-COHEN Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing Editorial Director

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PRESIDENT AND CEO Barbara Tulipane, CAE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLISHING, AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Gina Mullins-Cohen gcohen@nrpa.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR Samantha Bartram sbartram@nrpa.org MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Myrick smyrick@nrpa.org EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR Catrina Belt cbelt@nrpa.org PUBLICATION DESIGN Creative By Design www.creativebydesign.net SENIOR SALES MANAGER EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE Dana Storm 703.858.2174 dstorm@nrpa.org SALES MANAGER WESTERN REGION AND ASIA Michelle Dellner 949.248.1057 mdellner@nrpa.org MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Mike Abbaté Keith Anderson Gerald Brown Ernest Burkeen Gwendolyn Chambers Brendan Daley Ryan Eaker Mariela Fernandez Robert García Kathleen Gibi Paul Gilbert Sandra Gonzalez Greg Harrison Tim Herd Mareya Ibrahim Edward Krafcik Todd Lehman Sam Mendelsohn Maria Nardi Gil Peñalosa Dr. Kevin Riley Paula Sliefert Anne-Marie Spencer Stephen Springs Randy Wiger

Letters We hope the articles you read in Parks & Recreation are thought-provoking and engaging, and we want to hear your opinions on what you read in these pages. Through social media posts, website comments, emails to staff or posts on NRPA Connect, let us know how the magazine’s articles apply to your job and your agency. To submit feedback for this section, email Executive Editor Samantha Bartram at sbartram@nrpa.org.

Comment from Robin Nilsestuen regarding Cait Wilson, Jim Sibthorp and Dan Richmond’s February 2016 article, “Freedom to Fail, Space to Grow,” (www. parksandrecreation.org/2016/February/ Freedom-to-Fail-Space-to-Grow): I just read “Freedom to Fail, Space to Grow.” I really enjoyed the article because it gives me more ways to inspire our young athletes. My husband and I are honorary members of BeastMode, a local sports track and field team for kids ages 5 to 18. Our goal is to cheer the kids on, encourage them to believe in themselves and look at the positive side of what they are doing. We love working with the kids and seeing their success. I love the Henry Ford quote, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” What if [Ford] gave up when he failed — where would we be now? I used to run the 50-yard dash in elementary school and the teacher would ask me if that was the best I could do. I had no idea that one day, I would become a marathon runner and go on to do Ironman events.

Comment from Shontae Miller regarding Robin Wexler, CTRS, and Anthony Martino, CTRS, November 2015 article, “Licensure for Recreation Therapists: Why? Why Now?,” (www.parksandrecreation. org/2015/November/Licensure-for-Recreation-Therapists--Why--Why-Now): This is good. I hope one day that every state requires licensure. Having unqualified activity directors is another problem. In nursing homes everyone is certified, but the ac

tivity director. The activity director position should be for those that are certified by NCCAP or NCTRC. Instead, there are people with high school diplomas holding this title, while activity professionals or recreational therapists could be holding these positions.

Comment from Dawn B. Trenholm regarding Sarah Jovinelly, Alba Sereno, Carmen Llanes-Pulido and Cynthia Rodriguez’s March 2016 article, “Communities Rallying for Health,” (www.parksandrecreation.org/2016/March/Communities-Rallying-for-Health): Wow! Thank you, God! Thank you to all who are making this such a success!

Kate, several members of the Williamson Creek Greenbelt, SANA [South Austin Neighborhood Alliance], GO! Austin/¡VAMOS! Austin, Dell Foundation and all city of Austin departments committed to the health and well-being of all. Amazing community outreach, planning, efforts and collaboration creating sustainable results. I love you, Austin!

Comment from John Principles on Sonia Myrick’s December 2015 By the Numbers column, “With a Little Help from Friends,” (www.parksandrecreation.org/2015/December/With-a-Little-Help-From-Friends): It is true when Forbes.com predicted that crowdfunding and unique fundraising strategies would account for more start-up monies than venture capital. This allows ordinary people to do their share to help out projects like keeping our neighborhood parks preserved. Good Job! W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | J U LY 2 0 1 6 |

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Community Center Every Kid in a Park

Free access to federal lands and waters for 4th graders and their guests

By Jonathan B. Jarvis

D

o you remember staying out until dark climbing trees, riding bikes, building forts, splashing through streams? Many of us do, but it is not generally true for today’s youth. Many grow up without spending large amounts of time exploring the outdoors and developing ties to the environment.

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We hope to change that with the help of the White House’s new Every Kid in a Park program. The initiative provides every fourth-grade student in America, along with his or her family, the opportunity to visit more than 2,000 federally managed lands and waters — for FREE! The website www.everykidinapark. go provides information about the program and how to obtain the pass. It also suggests destinations and activities so kids can experience first-hand our country’s most inspiring historical sites and natural spaces.

This year, the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary. It is a time to not just reflect on the past 100 years, but also to look ahead to the future. We hope

this pass will help create a new generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates.

We want fourth graders to visit places, near or far, and connect with the vast natural resources our country has to offer. Whether it is in their own backyard or across the country, we want young people to develop lasting connections to land, water and wildlife and be aware of opportunities to play, learn, serve and work in America’s great outdoors.

The Every Kid in a Park program is made possible by collaboration across a wide variety of government departments and agencies. Participating entities include the Department of the Interior (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Education, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Many state park systems have also joined the Every Kid in a Park program and are granting free access to fourth graders and their families. In addition, nonprofits, corporations and other partners, such as the National Park Foundation, REI, the Outdoor Industry Association/Outdoor Foundation, the Conservation Fund, SOS Outreach, Amtrak and Outdoors Alliance for Kids are providing support for the program to help as many people as possible have meaningful outdoor experiences.

On September 1, 2016, the next class of fourth grade students will become eligible for their Every Kid in a Park passes. As the program continues to evolve and expand each year, we hope that all kids will look forward to the time when they can get their own Every Kid pass, and host their families on expeditions to discover nature’s wonders.

Jonathan B. Jarvis is the 18th Director of the National Park Service (asknps@nps.gov).

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Community Center

Where Work Meets Play: A Research-Based Approach to the Design and Evaluation of Smale Riverfront Park

By Kate Tooke

S

creams of delight come from the slide hillside, mixing with the comfortable chatter of nearby parents. I watch a little girl launch herself down the slide.

She hollers cheerfully as she careens off the end, taking a tumble before regaining her feet. She turns and flashes me a big smile, eyes shining, calling out, “Mama, come play!” I scribble down a few last notes and run over to join her.

On this sunny Saturday in mid-October, myself, my daughter, Tessa, and a team of designers from Sasaki Associates Inc. are in Cincinnati to conduct a post-occupancy evaluation of the new playscapes at Smale Riverfront Park.

The park sits on the banks of the Ohio River between Paul Brown Stadium and the Great American Ball Park. Cincinnati is hardly short on playgrounds — the Trust for Public Land ranks it No. 2 in the nation when it comes to playgrounds per capita — but in the six months since this playscape opened, it has become a regional destination for families. A park

maintenance staffer said some parts of the park had “at least one child per square foot” on summer weekends.

In part, the park is so popular because it is so different. Here, instead of the plastic post-and-platform structures of a typical American playground, climbing walls, boulders, bridges, logs and slide hillsides await curious kids. It’s a place that seems a bit wild and a little risky, a place where the unexpected can happen.

The refreshing change of pace at Smale is part of a nationwide movement to re-invigorate outdoor playspaces. Susan Solomon, author of American Play-

grounds: Revitalizing Community Space, describes today’s default playground as “the McDonald’s model:” a garishly colored and unimaginative collection of posts, platforms, tunnels and slides stamped uniformly across the country. “Things like taking risks, learning to fail, learning to master something, to plan ahead, to develop deep friendships,” Solomon says, “none of those could take place on most playgrounds today.” Children are suffering as a result. A lack of free play opportunities is culpable in forming the habits of a generation of children who are less imaginative, creative and expressive, according to Kyung-Hee Kim, an educational psychologist at the College of William and Mary and the author of the 2011 paper The Creativity Crisis.

During the past decade a groundswell of play advocates — including parents,

The first two phases of Smale Riverfront Park were completed in 2011 and include complex urban landscapes and structures stepping down to the floodplain. The third phase, which opened in 2013, includes 15 acres of parkland within the floodplain. Phases four and five opened together in the spring of 2015 and include a carousel built on a structure above the floodplain and 15 more acres of flood-absorbing parkland.

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teachers and designers — have begun arguing that a reasonable level of risk in play is essential to children’s healthy development. The pendulum is slowly swinging back, with cities increasingly engaging designers in the creation of custom play environments that are contextual, place-specific and creative in their interpretation of the safety guidelines.

The Playscapes in Context The making of Smale Park is a decades-long story of transformation. In the mid-1990s, most of the 32-acre site was a brownfield covered in parking and vacant industrial parcels that were regularly flooded by the adjacent Ohio River. A bold master-planning process in the late 1990s laid the groundwork for the park. In 1999, Sasaki was selected to develop concept plans and a team of landscape architects, urban planners and

This carousel pavilion houses Carol Ann’s Carousel and features an outdoor fountain popular with children in the summer months.

engineers conceived a multiphase approach, which began with making room for the park.

The park’s dedicated playscapes — the Heekin Family/Grow Up Great Adventure Playscape and the P&G goVibrant-scape — opened together in the late spring of 2015. They blur the traditional boundaries between park and playground — there are no fences separating zones. Instead, children and fami-

lies encounter spaces from all directions and play spills out onto lawns and paths.

The park was conceived as a family destination, integrating attractions like Carol Ann’s Carousel, fountains and a labyrinth, along with places to picnic, rent bikes, swing or sit by the river.

Design Process The design team and park board together aspired to set a new standard. “We want-

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Parks & Recreation

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Community Center

ed a place of adventure and challenge, not a typical playground composed of off-the-shelf components,” says Steven Schuckman, superintendent of planning and design for Cincinnati Parks.

The goal was to create a playground “as unique and grounded in the site and its history as is the rest of the park.”

At the same time, three important private funding sources stepped forward: The Heekin Family, PNC Bank and Proctor & Gamble. The Heekin Family, along with PNC Bank, donated generously toward a playground that would inspire and challenge Cincinnati children to be physically active. Proctor & Gamble’s charitable foundation offered a grant to create a playful, interactive space that would engage families in explorations of cause and effect, promoting fun physical exercise. The aligned support of the park board and funders formed a strong foundation for conceptual design.

A research-based process greatly informed the layout and specific features of the PNC/Heekin Adventure Playscape. The design responds to six categories of risky play, as defined in a 2011 article in the journal Evolutionary Psy-

chology by Ellen Sandseter, a professor at Queen Maud University in Trondheim, Norway. They include great heights, rapid speeds, dangerous tools, dangerous elements, rough and tumble, and disappearing/getting lost.

Elements like the slide, climbing walls and bridges were designed to help kids achieve feelings of great heights and rapid speeds, while small nooks in the rock outcrops and winding paths capture a sense of mystery. All custom design features meet the safety standards of the Public Playground Safety Handbook, a guide published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The design team also sought to incorporate different types of play. Sara Smilanski, a renowned Israeli child psychologist who trained with Jean Piaget, developed a widely accepted theory in the late 1960s about four types of play that contribute to children’s learning and development. They are functional play — physical and gross-motor activities, constructive play — building and creating, dramatic play — engaging imagination and role playing and games with rules.

Sasaki researchers tracked the behaviors of people using Smale Riverfront Park to gain insight about what parts of the park were working well and where further adjustments might be needed.

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The Impact As excitement about Smale Park grew, designers at Sasaki became interested in understanding and learning from the project. They wanted to unpack how children and families use the playscapes and how the park was performing from a maintenance and safety perspective.

Post-Occupancy Study Methodology: Sasaki’s research/design team — three landscape architects and one intrepid four-year old research assistant — traveled to Cincinnati to collect the data. We logged more than 45 observation hours and conducted more than 100 interviews.

Our chief methods included counting, tracking, listening and interviewing. Every 30 minutes, we conducted a full count of the people in the playscapes, capturing where children, adults, teens, strollers and dogs were distributed. Tracking consisted of mapping one child’s journey for 5 minutes. We tracked two to three times every 30 minutes. We conducted interviews with both visitors and stakeholders, including key park maintenance staff and leadership. And key to our qualitative data was intensive listening — we sat in each play zone for 10 minutes at a time, cataloging conversations.

Findings: We collected a substantial amount of qualitative and quantitative data, which revealed a number of key trends: • The playscapes at Smale have a high level of intergenerational integration. Teens and adults can be found climbing, sliding, splashing, balancing and jumping right alongside their younger counterparts all throughout the playscapes.

• Design layout has a strong effect on patterns of movement. The PNC/ Heekin adventure playscape is designed as one fluid playscape, with

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different play elements linked together. Children moved in fast, iterative and looping paths here. By contrast, the P&G goVibrantscape is laid out as separate play “rooms” arranged along the central spine of historic Water Street. Parents and children traveled together from room to room, rarely returning to a room after leaving it.

• A custom playscape continues to evolve over time, long beyond initial design and installation. During the course of the first six months, the park maintenance and operations team modified almost a dozen responses to minor concerns like wear patterns in the grass, creaking joints at the flying pig and children bypassing the slides in favor of the contoured concrete base. Their simple interventions have subtly changed use patterns in the park.

• No matter the design considerations and operational measures in place, some kids will use the playscape in unintended ways. At Smale, children who want to be creative have plenty of opportunities for greater challenges, even as the custom playscape meets all safety standards. One group of boys used the Heekin playscape as a parkour training ground, doing flips off the rocks, leaping over the climbing logs and swinging on the rope bridge.

These takeaways gloss over a million nuances of the post-occupancy data, but together highlight how the park has developed a life of its own. As designers, funders, clients and stakeholders, we all dream big about what a park can be, but in the end, it is the community that really defines what it is. How they use the playscape, what they love and what they neglect — these are critical drivers of the park’s future and key learning moments for future designs.

Kate Tooke is a Landscape Architect for Sasaki Associates (ktooke@sasaki.com).

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Community Center

From the Director’s Chair

J

uly marks Park and Recreation Month, a period when national visibility for agencies — and the field of parks and recreation in general — is at its greatest height. Summer is in full-swing and communities seem eager to take advantage of available recreational amenities. Savvy park and recreation leaders find ways to capitalize on this momentum and leverage public awareness to its greatest effect. This Park and Recreation Month, we reached out to Rick Herold, director of the Grand Prairie (Texas) Parks and Recreation Department; Michael S. Soderberg, executive director for community services at Thornton, Colorado, Parks and Open Space; and Eric Call, director of the Palm Beach County, Florida, Parks and Recreation Department, to ask the following question: How has Park and Recreation Month helped to increase awareness of park and recreation amenities in your community and how have you capitalized on this campaign? Following are their insights: During [the 2013 Park and Recreation Month campaign themed] “I Love My Parks and Recreation,” we had people do selfies as to what they like best in parks and recreation. We turned that into a short film we marketed to everyone.

During a 1970s-themed celebration, we had contests and 70s music, turned back time to 70s pricing for a day, and broadened our fan and user base.

From having a superhero costume contest on July 1 to myriad fun and exciting events, Park and Recreation Month has become a tradition in Grand Prairie. It supports our tagline that in our community, parks and recreation is a “community celebration!”

Rick Herold Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation is always excited to engage with Park and Recreation Month. We have also found over the years that it reinforces our mission and encourages more people to jump aboard the parks and recreation bandwagon. Our staff creates events for every day of the month to help broaden the effort! We engage our elected and appointed officials, citizens groups and organizations, and even our staff. Programming for the month supports the Three Pillars set-forth by NRPA: Conservation, Health and Wellness and Social Equity.

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We have also found over the years that [Park and Recreation Month] reinforces our mission and encourages more people to jump aboard the parks and recreation bandwagon.

— Rick Herold

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Michael S. Soderberg During the past six to seven years, the city of Thornton’s Parks and Recreation team has really tried to embrace National Park and Recreation Month to spread enthusiasm for all of the wonderful amenities in our community.

One of the most immediate ways we capitalize on increasing visibility is to regularly utilize social media to send messages about a particular park, facility or program that might be featured on any given day. And, the most successful posts tend to include photos that show kids or families using the various amenities. We also utilize our Fourth of July Celebration every year to make Park and Recreation Month announcements or introductions (e.g., Captain Community this year!).

With more than 50,000 people in the park that day, we have a captive audience whose curiosity we hope to pique with information on the various activities happening in July. July is our busiest month of the year, and we take full advantage of the many programs and facilities to promote all of the park and recreation amenities available to our residents.

and throughout our wilderness and environmental sites and programs. We work closely with the 22 municipal agencies within Palm Beach County, encouraging them to come up with innovative and creative ways to showcase parks and recreation amenities and to bring awareness of the health, economic, social and environmental benefits our parks deliver to approximately 1.4 million residents.

Equally important, Park and Recreation Month has allowed every one of our 1,120 employees the opportunity to participate in the festivities we plan and to take pride in the profession they’ve chosen.

— Samantha Bartram, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

Eric Call Palm Beach County, covering nearly 2,500 square miles, works year-round on advocacy and community building to bring awareness to the many park and recreation amenities we have to offer.

However, Park and Recreation Month allows us to focus our efforts with all team members rallying around a common message.

Our public outreach efforts focus on the value and benefits of a quality park and recreation system and we seek out opportunities to share that message.

Tying the theme into our social media posts has increased interest among our park users who have in turn shared their own stories and photos. A proclamation is prepared every year by the Board of County Commissioners, and we always include users of our parks in this public spotlight, celebrating how parks and recreation has positively impacted their lives.

We incorporate the Park and Recreation Month theme in our summer camps, special events, sporting events,

Park and Recreation Month has allowed every one of our 1,120 employees the opportunity to participate in the festivities we plan and to take pride in the profession they’ve chosen.

— Eric Call

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Community Center

Notable News Hot Topics Have you posted on NRPA Connect?

NRPA Connect allows you to network and share resources, ideas and inspirations with your peers in the park and recreation field. Below, find a preview of what you’re missing: Off-season uses for outdoor ice skating: There are many ways to use outdoor ice-skating rinks in the off-season. Ideas range from splash pads to sand volleyball courts and places to host outdoor events, including markets, weddings and picnics.

Public comments at advisory board meetings: How do you structure your advisory board meetings to allow for public comments? Do you allow open comments, comments on agenda items only or is speaking time limited? Weigh in on your rules for your meetings.

Private grills in parks: Members in this discussion share their policies about patrons bringing their own charcoal or gas grills to parks. Many agencies have policies that do not allow charcoal because of concerns about proper disposal. Others don’t allow grills to be brought in at all — they have instead installed permanent grills for public use.

Budget placement: What are the pros and cons of moving your park and recreation budget out of the general fund? Your colleagues discuss their experiences, including one example of a budget managed by an appointed citizen’s commission with full powers to approve all functions of the department.

It’s easy to stay in touch. NRPA Connect is now 100 percent responsive on all devices! Don’t get left behind, visit www.nrpaconnect.org to join the conversation.

— Hayley Herzing, NRPA’s Membership Programs Manager

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n The community of Roanoke, Virginia, mourns the loss of its Parks and Recreation Director Steven Buschor, who died at home, June 6, surrounded by family and friends. “This community is where it is today in terms of quality of life and recreation...because of Steve Buschor,” said Roanoke Mayor-Elect Sherman Lea. “It’s a very sad day for this valley because Steve was so instrumental in a lot of what we did in this community.” Born in Delphos, Ohio, Buschor earned a bachelor’s degree in Community Recreation Administration from The Ohio State University and also served as an athletic trainer for Ohio State athletics where he earned his 1975 Rose Bowl ring. In addition to being an NRPA member, he was a past member of the board of directors for the Virginia Recreation and Park Society, and past officer of the American Parks and Recreation Society, Missouri Parks and Recreation Association, and Ohio Parks and Recreation Association. A passionate public servant, dedicated to his community, Buschor also served as a judge for the 2015 Miss Virginia Pageant. n The renovated 1.5-mile stretch of St. Louis riverfront below the Gateway Arch opened to the public June 9. To limit flooding, this stretch along the now two-lane Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard was elevated an average of 2 feet. Old chains and cobblestones, original to the site, are incorporated in the new look, which now also features bike racks, benches, LED lights, new signage, power outlets and a street-level stage to host events and programs. The renovation, which began in December 2013 and cost about $25 million, is part of $380 million worth of renovations and upgrades around the Gateway Arch. The project was paid for with a mixture of federal dollars and local sales tax that funds the Great Rivers Greenway District.

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n The U.S. Department of the Interior recently designated Tulsa, Oklahoma’s 300-acre Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area as National Recreation Trails. According to River Parks Authority Executive Director Matt Meyer, the designation of the 6.7 miles of marked trails “is a great feather in our cap. It shows that we have great recognition for the importance of the Turkey Mountain trails.” n North Providence, Rhode Island, became the sixth community in the state to pass a ban on smoking in all town parks and recreation areas, with one key exception: e-cigarettes will still be allowed to be smoked in the parks. The town council’s ordinance committee revised the rule to exempt e-cigarettes based on there being no conclusive evidence about health problems associated with e-cigarettes. The new smoking ban updates a 1997 ordinance, but the original fine of $100 for breaking this rule remains unchanged. The measure now goes before to the full town council, which is expected to easily approve it. n In early June, National Water Trail status was conferred on Indiana’s Kankakee River by the National Park Service and the Department of Interior.

The river, once part of an almost million-acre marsh that teamed with wildlife, was dredged in Indiana a century ago but still boasts fish, birds and wild shores. The newly conferred status will draw extra attention to the 133-mile Kankakee, which flows through Indiana and Illinois, and could result in more access to and better care for the river.

For more news from around the industry, visit www.parksandrecreation. org/2016/July/Notable-News.

By the Numbers

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Member to Member Colorado Springs’ Comeback

By Karen Palus, CPRP, CYSA

C

olorado Springs, Colorado made national headlines and was featured on Public Radio International’s “This American Life” in 2012 as a striking example of a community struggling to balance ideological values of smaller government and low taxes with the hard reality of discontinuing basic services. Colorado Springs became infamous for locking public restrooms, shutting down public pools and recreation centers, and letting the park grass die from lack of water.

Colorado Springs’ is a comeback story, from the shutdown of parks and services to being identified as a top-five most desirable city to live in by US News and World Report and home to Garden of the Gods Park, named the No. 1 park in the country by TripAdvisor. It is now a community with an exciting plan for the future and supporters to help make this renaissance a reality.

During the downturn in the economy, the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Depart-

ment experimented with a variety of approaches to manage a one-year, 80 percent reduction in its budget. Since then, the department has regained some funding and is learning from its experimentation with contracting services, nonprofit partnerships, special districts, utilizing volunteers and “friends groups,” fundraising and more. The Colorado Springs experience provides an excellent example of learning from challenges and creating new opportunities. A number of spe-

Volunteers work at Garden of the Gods Park.

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cific areas highlight how the Colorado Springs Parks Department has evolved to meet the needs of the community in an effective, creative manner.

Volunteers The parks department has a long history of working with an active and engaged community of more than 5,000 volunteers who assist with programs and stewardship activities. Their combined efforts resulted in more than 158,000 volunteer hours in 2015, an 8 percent increase from 2014. Additionally, many of the large regional parks and cultural sites have friends groups that assist staff with event coordination, programs, stewardship activities and fundraising. These friends groups became caretakers of their respective sites during the department’s years of reduced staffing and funding.

Over time, even though parks department funding has increased, the passion and commitment of Colorado Springs volunteers continues, allowing newly regained resources to go even further.

Sustainable Design The department’s design and development group has become even more focused on sustainable maintenance operations to ensure available resources are utilized as effectively and efficiently as possible. An excellent example is John Venezia Park, a new community park currently under construction — the first in the past 10 years. Of its 30 developed acres, less than 2.5 acres are irrigated turf, which significantly reduces typical maintenance needs. Three fullsize soccer fields outfitted with artificial turf will create a year-round playing surface adaptable to a wide range of sports

Below, one of the three fields in Memorial Park, which is located in central Colorado Springs.

that will increase the revenue potential of the facility. State-of-the-art LED lighting will be used in all the buildings and throughout the complex. Additionally, water quality basins will be included to collect water from non-permeable surfaces, directing it toward areas of landscaped plantings. Nooks and crannies that often create areas of unintended maintenance have been sought out and thoughtfully modified or eliminated to help reduce their potential demands on maintenance staff.

Water Conservation With 58 percent of Colorado Springs Parks Department’s maintenance operating budget devoted to the cost of water, it was imperative that steps be taken to limit water use and be sure the resource was leveraged effectively.

More than 10 percent of the bluegrass that was in the parks system in 2009 has been replaced with drought-tolerant native grass that requires considerably less water and reduced mowing cycles, while still providing the aesthetic look of a park. In partnership with Colorado Springs Utilities, capital investments were made to upgrade the irrigation system to include “smart” controllers, giving park technicians greater control, flexibility and understanding of the operations of the irrigation systems they manage. Also, a pilot program created

by Colorado Springs Utilities incentivized the parks department to conservatively manage the water used for irrigation. By watering at 80 percent of the recommended rates for bluegrass, the department was able to shave as much as 40 percent off of its anticipated water bill. The pilot conservation rate program gave the department the necessary time to upgrade its irrigation systems and change the culture and skillsets of maintenance staff members to one that positions water management and con

The Master Plan design for John Venezia Community Park, at right, was envisioned with maximum sustainability in mind. Its targeted completion date is May 2017.

servation as high priorities. All Colorado Springs Parks Department maintenance technicians are now Certified Irrigators through the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado and several have become Certified Irrigation Auditors. Although the pilot program has expired and the 2016 budget allows staff to water at the recommended rates for bluegrass for the first time since 2008, lessons learned from the downturn, upgrades to irrigation systems and investments in staff training mean that every penny spent for water is done so as efficiently as possible.

The Colorado Springs Parks, Rec-

reation and Cultural Services Department has successfully employed a variety of strategies to build community trust, develop successful partnerships and create a defensible citizen-supported economic case regarding the community value of parks. It has also implemented a variety of financial and operational strategies to meet its vision of building community and preserving its legacy to make Colorado Springs the finest place to live and visit.

Karen Palus, CPRP, CYSA, is the Director of the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department (kpalus@springsgov.com).

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ADVOCACY

Technology + Recreation = Prime Out-of-School Time

By Kevin O’Hara

I

n 2013, Andrew Coy, a former Baltimore City School teacher, and his team at the Digital Harbor Foundation commandeered an abandoned rec center in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood with the goal of creating a place to help kids learn how to code and design websites. Through fits and starts the program has evolved to serve thousands of kids each year, exposing them to coding, 3D printers and scanning, while also providing simple materials like popsicle sticks, glue and space for kids to be kids — to create things, tinker and solve problems organically.

Three years later, this partnership is seen as an unalloyed success, molding young minds and providing both the mental and physical space for young people to grow and learn. Coy brought his knowledge to the White House Office of Science and Technology as a senior advisor, charged with “increasing tech access for traditionally underserved populations and spreading awareness of making among both public and private organizations.” What Coy started in Federal Hill is part of a growing trend that the Obama admin-

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istration has termed “Rec2Tech.”

In June 2014, President Obama launched the Nation of Makers initiative, an all-hands-on-deck call to make sure more students, entrepreneurs and Americans of all backgrounds have access to a new class of technologies — including 3D printers, laser cutters and desktop machine tools — that are enabling more Americans to design, build and manufacture just about anything. Last year, the president expanded the work and asked “all Americans to help unlock the potential of our nation and ensure these

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opportunities reach all our young people, regardless of who they are or where they come from.” This year, the White House is hosting the first ever Maker’s Faire right here in Washington, D.C. NRPA and its members are partnering with the White House to support the Nation of Makers Initiative as part of a concerted effort to highlight the diverse ways park and recreation agencies use out-of-school-time (OST) programming to keep kids healthy and provide valuable supplemental educational opportunities.

To support the Nation of Makers initiative, NRPA, representing more than 52,000 local park and recreation professionals, is launching a Rec2Tech campaign to help more members learn how to convert underutilized recreation centers into technology-center makerspaces. For 2016-2017, this will include developing and sharing a curriculum and

Essential for all Parks best-practices guide on making Rec2Tech a core function of all neighborhood-based recreation centers, highlighting examples through its publications, and providing training to members at the NRPA Annual Conference.

Innovation in the Field Pittsburgh Parks and Recreation is among the early NRPA members to embrace the Rec2Tech movement in its communities.

The city of Pittsburgh, The Sprout Fund and organizations from the Remake Learning Network will work together to reimagine Pittsburgh’s recreation centers as accessible neighborhood-based places for technology-enhanced learning. By May 2017, this Rec2Tech partnership will yield a community plan, site-specific curriculum, renderings and space designs, and a demonstration effort.

Jamie Beechy, the assistant director of Parks and Recreation in the Steel City characterizes Rec2Tech as “inspiring people of all ages for careers and opportunities that they didn’t know existed utilizing ambassadors and instructors that reflect themselves.

With the technology industry clamoring for employees, bringing making and technology into facilities that are accessible to the city residents increases the likelihood of economic success and independence of citizens in an urban environment.”

So often rec centers are among the only safe places for kids to go after school to learn, participate in sports or just hang out.

Forward-thinking agencies that are interested in helping to close the digital divide may want to consider adding some making or STEM-related curriculum to summer and afterschool programming as a way to, as Coy puts it, “formally support informal learning.”

From Rec2Tech, environmental education, Commit to Health and beyond, OST programs are bringing tremendous benefits to communities. However, there remain many opportunities for greater success through serving more children and expanding program offerings. NRPA is helping lead the way by advocating for expanded and new funding sources. For example, NRPA was among the leaders of a successful effort to help authorize $2.2 billion for environmental education in the recent Every Student Succeeds Act. To help with this effort, we are asking you to complete a short survey about your agency’s OST programs. Questions focus on what your OST programs offer, who your agency partners with and the greatest challenges facing your program. You can access the survey at http://bit.ly/28PdcQJ.

See us at Cultivate’16 - Booth #202

Always ahead in science and value.

Kevin O’Hara is NRPA’s Vice President of Urban and Government Affairs (kohara@nrpa.org).

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L AW R E V I E W

Recreational Use Statutes in State Supreme Courts

By James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

B

ased on years of reported recreational injury liability case law involving public park and recreation agencies, liability should be the exception rather than the rule. As illustrated by the recent state supreme court opinions described herein, one of the major themes involving landowner liability for recreational injuries in public parks and recreation has been the scope and applicability of limited immunity under a state recreational use statute (RUS).

With minor variations, an RUS exists in most jurisdictions. In many jurisdictions, the RUS definition of “landowner” has been extended through expressed statutory language or court decree to include governmental entities, including public parks and recreation. Generally, an RUS provides that a landowner owes no legal duty to guard, warn or make the premises reasonably safe when allowing public recreational use on the land free of charge. Accordingly, when an RUS applies, a landowner will be immune from liability for ordinary negligence, but not willful or wanton misconduct.

Unlike a singular careless act or omis-

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sion characteristic of ordinary negligence, within the context of RUS immunity, willful/wanton misconduct or gross negligence requires much more egregious misconduct that exhibits behavior tantamount to intent to injure or an outrageous and utter disregard for the physical well-being of a recreational user on the premises. In addition to the willful/ wanton misconduct exception, the typical RUS includes a fee or consideration exception. In keeping with the original legislative intent for an RUS to encourage public recreational use of private land free of charge, the fee or consideration exception to RUS immunity generally applies

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where the landowner charges a fee or gains some direct economic benefit from a specific portion of the premises where the recreational user was injured.

Ballfield Hole In the case of Carlson v. Town of South Kingstown, 111 A.3d 819; 2015 R.I. LEXIS 48 (4/8/2015), the Supreme Court of Rhode Island considered the scope and applicability of immunity under the state RUS for a spectator injury at a baseball game in a park owned and maintained by the town.

On July 28, 2010, plaintiff Kathleen Carlson attended her son’s little league baseball game at Tuckertown Park in the Wakefield section of South Kingstown. The game was open to the general public and no tickets were required to attend. The league had a permit, issued by the town, to host this game, as it did for all its games, but the town charged no fee to use the park.

After the game ended, Carlson, who had been standing in the area of a set of batting cages located just off the first-base line of the park’s lower field, walked toward the concession stand, where she planned to meet her son. On her way there, Carlson felt her ankle twist under her and she heard what she believed was the breaking of bones in her leg. Carlson testified that she never fell to the ground, but “when I took a step on my right leg, I felt my ankle fall into this little divot in the ground.” As a consequence of her stumble into the “divot,” Carlson broke her right leg.

A witness to the injury would later testify by deposition that this “divot” was a part of a “repetitive problem” caused by “kids waiting to get into the batting cage, [when] they dig their cleats into the ground.” As to the size and shape of the hole that caused her injury, Carlson described the “divot” as “only under 2 inches but I don’t really remember.” Another witness to the injury said the hole was, “6, 8 inches across, maybe a little wider than that, a good 8, 10 inches deep.”

The town’s Director of Leisure Services, Theresa Murphy, testified that the most recent inspection of the field had been accomplished two days before the incident. She testified further that the town received no notice of any hazardous condition existing at the park. The particular hole in question was filled in by the town the day after the incident.

It was the town’s regular policy to maintain the fields at Tuckertown Park on Mondays and Thursdays — no reports had been received about the area of Carlson’s accident. Asked whether the town was aware of holes near the batting cages being a common problem, Murphy stated, “I’m not sure it’s a common problem, but I am aware that that type of thing can happen.” Murphy, however, admitted that it was not uncommon “to find holes in ball fields after people have used them.” Murphy testified that, if the town

had been aware of any potential hazard, it would have had it repaired or fixed. There was no record of any similar incidents causing injuries at Tuckertown Park.

In her complaint, Carlson alleged the town’s negligence “in maintaining the premises of Tuckertown Field” caused her injury. In response, the town moved for summary judgment, claiming the state RUS barred Carlson’s lawsuit. A summary judgment in the town’s favor would effectively dismiss Carlson’s lawsuit. Carlson, however, claimed the RUS fee exception and/or the RUS willful/ wanton misconduct exception were applicable in this particular instance. Specifically, Carlson claimed that defendant willfully or maliciously failed to guard or warn against a dangerous condition on the land and that plaintiff had been charged for her access to the park.

Recreational Use Statute In the opinion of the trial court, the state RUS was “still alive and well.” Having found “no evidence here that the town was aware of this particular hole and/or the plaintiff was facing that peril before falling into that hole,” the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the town. Moreover, the trial court found “the fees paid to the league and the taxes paid to the town” did not “constitute an admission fee” or “charges as contemplated under the Recreational Use Statute.” Carlson appealed.

As cited by the state supreme court, the statutory language in this particular law was typical of almost every other RUS providing, in pertinent part, as follows: An owner of land who either directly or indirectly invites or permits without charge any person to use that property for recreational purposes does not thereby:

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(1) Extend any assurance that the premises are safe for any purpose; (2) Confer upon that person the legal status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed; nor (3) Assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to any person or property caused by an act of omission of that person…

Nothing in this chapter limits in any way any liability which, but for this chapter otherwise exists: (1) For the willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure or activity after discovering the user’s peril; or (2) For any injury suffered in any case where the owner of land charges the person or persons who enter or go on the land for the recreational use thereof.

As noted by the state supreme court, a 1996 amendment to the Rhode Island RUS clearly indicated the state legislature “intended to include the state and municipalities among owners entitled to immunity under the statute.” That being said, the state supreme court voiced its disapproval of extending the RUS to include governmental immunity.

We have on a number of occasions cast a disapproving eye on this expansion of immunity, saying, “the state and its municipalities are presumptively better able to bear the burden of damages” than an injured plaintiff, and that “the statutory scheme does nothing to motivate governmental landowners to make their properties safe.” Nonetheless, we have also been consistent in saying that this court is not a legislative body; we are bound to apply the statute in light of both its language and our jurisprudence.

Public Recreational Use? On appeal, Carlson argued that she “was not the type of user the statute contemplates” because “her use of Tuckertown Field was not the type of use the RUS was meant to cover.” The state supreme court disagreed. According to the court, “the nature and scope of the activities occurring 26 Parks & Recreation

on the land” would determine whether the RUS applied in a particular situation. Specifically, for the RUS to apply, the premises must be open and available to the public for recreational purposes and activities.

In this particular instance, the state supreme court found the area where Carlson was injured was in an area “away from the field of play” where people were “around the whole of the baseball field.” Since “the general public was free to access [this area] for recreational use,” the state supreme court held the RUS was indeed applicable to Carlson’s claim.

Willful Malicious Misconduct?

On appeal, Carlson also contended the RUS did not apply to her case under the willful or malicious conduct exception to RUS statutory immunity because the town had failed to guard against the likelihood of serious injuries. The state supreme court disagreed.

According to the court, there was “no such strong likelihood of injury” known to the town. While witness testimony indicated that similar holes were a “repetitive problem,” Murphy testified that “she and her department had received no notice of the hole.” While acknowledging the possibility of the type of hole that caused Carlson’s injury, Murphy had doubted that it was a “common problem.”

In the opinion of the court, “such evidence falls woefully short of establishing the existence of sufficient facts to show that the town knew of the particular hole that injured plaintiff or of similar persons injured by similar defects in the park.” Specifically, the state supreme court found the facts in this particular case fell “far short” of willful or malicious conduct, which would require the town to be “saturated with the knowledge that some feature of its land presents a clear and present danger to completely innocent users.” As a result, the state supreme court found the trial court had correctly concluded there was

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“no evidence here that the town was aware of this particular hole,” and the town did not know Carlson “was facing that peril.”

RUS Fee Exception?

Carlson also contended that the fee exception made RUS immunity inapplicable to her case because either: (1) she paid a fee to the league on her son’s behalf so that he could participate, or (2) she paid taxes to the town, which uses a part of its budget to maintain Tuckertown Park. As cited by the court, the fee exception in the RUS provided that no limitation of liability existed “for any injury suffered in any case where the owner of land charges the person or persons who enter or go on the land for the recreational use thereof.”

Further, the court noted that the RUS defined a “charge” as “the admission price or fee asked in return for invitation or permission to enter or go upon the land.”

Citing precedent from earlier decisions, to qualify as a “charge” under the RUS fee exception, the state supreme court found “the fee must be imposed for recreational use of the land.” In this particular instance, the court found Carlson was not subject to a “charge” for recreational use of Tuckertown Park.

When she was deposed, Ms. Carlson agreed that the game she went to see was open to the public and that it was not necessary to buy a ticket to get into the park to watch the game. The fee plaintiff paid to the league had no effect on her right to use the park or view the game; accordingly, such a fee is not a charge to use the land as the statute contemplates.

Moreover, the state supreme court found any taxes Carlson may have paid to the town “did not affect whether she could use the park for recreation, and therefore the taxes were not charges or fees to use the land.” Further, the court noted that Carlson “was not required to be a resident of South Kingstown to enter Tuckertown Park.”

In the opinion of the state supreme

court, it was “inconsistent with common sense” to allow Carlson’s “taxpayer argument” to trigger the fee exception in the RUS. To do so, in the opinion of the court, “would eviscerate a municipality’s RUS protection in every case where one of its own taxpayers was injured on its land, but not when a nonresident was injured.” According to the court, it would be “beyond absurd” to interpret the legislative intent of the “charge” exception in the RUS in the manner suggested by Carlson.

Accordingly, the supreme court found the trial court had “correctly applied the RUS” in determining there was no fee charged to Carlson “to walk onto this field to observe her son playing.” The state supreme court, therefore, affirmed the summary judgment of trial court in favor of the town, effectively dismissing Carlson’s lawsuit. In so doing, the court noted that any legal redress would have to come through the state legislature, not the courts.

Although we are sympathetic to the plaintiff, who suffered great pain and monetary losses from her injuries, we are bound by the language of the statute and guided by our past interpretations of it. A different result is only possible by revisiting the statute, a task, as we have said in the past, that is not for this court, but for the General Assembly.

School/Park Service Agreement Similarly, in the case of Hayes v. City of Plummer, 357 P.3d 1276; 2015 Ida. LEXIS 259 (9/30/2015), the Supreme Court of Idaho had to determine whether the state RUS was inapplicable because the defendant city had received a “charge” or “compensation” for use of the land on which plaintiff Hayes was injured.

On September 17, 2011, Martin Hayes was seriously injured after stumbling on uneven ground hidden by grass while attending his grandson’s Pop Warner football game at the Plummer School Park (park), which is owned by the city of Plummer (city).

The Pop Warner program is annually

organized and supported by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the Plummer community. The program has no affiliation to the school district or the city, although the program did reserve the field through

the school district’s scheduling form. It is undisputed that the Pop Warner program used the fields at no expense to the program, the players or those in attendance.

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L AW R E V I E W

newah School District (school district) conveyed the park to the city in fee simple for consideration of $10. The park was deeded shortly after both parties entered into a formal agreement to “develop outdoor recreational facilities for general public outdoor recreation use” as outlined in the parties’ Joint Service Agreement (JSA). Both parties assume as fact that School Park was transferred to the city in 1976 for the sole purpose of obtaining a federal grant for improvements, which were not available if the school district continued to own it. As a result of this transaction, the city was able to obtain a federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to make general improvements to the park for public use and enjoyment.

Pursuant to the JSA, the city agreed to construct joint facilities in the park for public use in conjunction with school activities, and the school district agreed to maintain the facilities. Although the school district pays for all maintenance, water and electric utilities, has made significant improvements to the facilities, maintains property insurance for those improvements and controls the scheduling for organized events, the park is generally open to the public at no expense. In this particular instance, Hayes did not pay any fee or admission to enter the park.

Hayes filed a premises liability claim against the city for his injuries. In turn, the city filed a motion for summary judgment on the basis that the city was entitled to a limit on liability under Idaho’s RUS. The district (i.e., trial) court agreed with the city. In the opinion of the district court, Idaho’s RUS, Idaho Code section 361604, provided the city of Plummer with immunity because the city did not receive “compensation” or “charge” for use of the land upon which Hayes was injured.

The district court, therefore, granted the city’s motion for summary judgment, effectively dismissing the lawsuit. Hayes appealed to the state supreme court.

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Fee for Services Rendered?

As described by the state supreme court, the specific issue to be resolved on appeal was “whether the school district’s payment of utilities and property insurance, maintenance, improvements to the facilities and control of the park’s activities schedule constitutes ‘compensation’ that the city ‘charged’ to the school district in exchange for the use of the park.”

As noted by the court, “the objective of statutory interpretation is to derive the intent of the legislative body that adopted the act.”

Statutory interpretation begins with the literal language of the statute and provisions should not be read in isolation, but must be interpreted in the context of the entire document. Words should be given their plain, usual and ordinary meanings and only if the language is ambiguous may this court consider rules of statutory construction.

Citing the dictionary definitions, the court found the plain, usual and ordinary definitions of “charge” and compensation” were as follows: ‘Charge’ is ordinarily defined as ‘to demand a fee; to bill.’ — Black’s Law Dictionary p. 282 (10th ed., 2014).

‘Compensation”’is defined as ‘remuneration and other benefits received in return for services rendered.’ Black’s Law Dictionary p. 342-43 (10th ed., 2014) Accordingly, the state supreme court found a plain reading of these terms within the context of the state RUS “unambiguously demonstrates that the terms ‘charge’ and ‘compensation’ only reflect payment for direct use or admission to the property.” In so doing, the court noted that the “compensation exception” under a state RUS generally is only applicable “where a landowner received monetary payment specifically for the public’s entrance or enjoyment of a recreational area.” Specifically, the fee exception to immunity under an otherwise applicable state RUS usually requires a “charge” as

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“consideration given in return for the express and direct privilege of being allowed to utilize the property, in money or other thing of value.” In this particular instance, the court found “Hayes entered the park at no expense whatsoever…[and no] assertion has ever been made that either the school district or the city benefited by Hayes’s access to the park in any way.”

That being said, the state supreme court recognized this particular JSA presented a rather “unique issue” within the context of an RUS fee exception, viz. “the city benefits from the school district’s services, yet the park remains open and free to the general public.” The state supreme court, however, noted that the Idaho RUS “contemplates that land owners may enter into leases or other arrangements within the protection of the statute.”

Under subsection (e), a private entity may lease land to the state, presumably for compensation or profit, yet immunity may be extended so long as the land is leased “for recreational purposes” and no charge is levied against the public for access or use of the land. I.C. § 36-1604(e) As characterized by the court, the arrangement between the city and the school district was “not unlike a landlease agreement expressly contemplated

by Idaho’s Recreational Use Statute” between a private entity and the state. In particular, the court noted the JSA between the city and the school district specifically articulated that the arrangement was “intended to better allocate resources for the mutual best interest of developing outdoor recreational facilities for general public outdoor recreation use.”

Moreover, regardless of the “general character of the property,” here a school/ park, the court found the “compensation exception” to the RUS applied as long as the property was “gratuitously accessible” for “public recreational space.”

The intent and purpose of Idaho’s Recreational Use Statute is to provide

recreational access at no cost to the general public. I.C. § 361604(a). In this case, the city and the school district have done that by allocating resources in order to provide and maintain the park for all to enjoy.

Having found “the city did not charge or receive compensation from Hayes or the public for their use and enjoyment of the land,” the state supreme court held the RUS was applicable under the circumstances of this particular case. In so doing, the state supreme court held “the school district’s payment of all utilities, ongoing maintenance and scheduling of the Plummer School Park is not a ‘charge’ or ‘compensation’ under Idaho’s Recreational Use Statute.” The state supreme court, therefore, affirmed the summary judgment of the lower court in favor of the defendant city.

Condition of Premises?

In the case of Combs v. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 2016-Ohio-1565; 2016 Ohio LEXIS 953 (11/17/2915), the Supreme Court of Ohio considered whether the Ohio RUS provided immunity for injuries to a recreational user that were caused by the alleged negligence of an employee in the course of maintaining the premises.

On July 27, 2011, Richard Combs was celebrating his birthday at Indian Lake State Park, which is open to the public without an admission charge. He spent the night fishing and early the next morning walked to Pew Island, which affords better fishing. As Combs walked across the causeway to Pew Island, Jerry Leeth, an Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) employee, was using a boom mower to cut weeds and brush along the lakeshore. One of the mower blades hit the riprap — stones placed along the waterline to prevent erosion — and threw a rock that struck Combs in the eye and face and caused serious injuries.

Combs sued ODNR in the Court of Claims, alleging Leeth had negligently operated the boom mower and caused his injury. The Court of Claims granted ODNR’s motion for summary judgment.

In the opinion of the claims court, Combs was a recreational user at the time of his injury. Accordingly, ODNR had no duty to keep the park safe for his entry or use and his negligence claim was barred as a matter of law.

The Tenth District Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the Court of Claims. In the opinion of the appeals court, the RUS “provides immunity only for injuries caused by the defective condition of the premises.” In this particular instance, the appeals court found the Recreational Use Statute did not apply because “Combs claimed that he was injured by the negligence of a park employee and not by a defect in the premises.” On appeal, the state supreme court agreed.

As cited by the state supreme court, the Ohio RUS, R.C. 1533.181, provided that “no landowner owes any duty to a recre

ational user to keep the premises safe for entry or use or extends any assurance in that regard.” Accordingly, the court found “a landowner is not liable to a recreational user for injuries caused by the defective condition of a recreational premises.”

However, under the circumstances of this particular case, the Ohio Supreme Court found injuries that “resulted from the alleged negligent operation of a boom mower” were not injuries arising “from the condition of the premises.” As a result, the state supreme court held “the recreational user statute does not limit a landowner’s liability for a negligently inflicted injury that does not arise from the condition of the premises.”

Having found the RUS did not apply to the circumstances of this particular case, the court found ODNR had “a duty to conduct mowing safely” and ODNR could be “held liable for the negligence of its employees if it breaches that duty.” As a result, Combs could proceed with his negligence claim against ODNR in the state claims court.

James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D., is an attorney and Associate Professor in the School of Recreation, Health and Tourism at George Mason University (jkozlows@gmu.edu). Webpage with link to Law Review articles archive (1982 to present): http://mason.gmu.edu/~jkozlows.

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FUTURE LEADERS

Success Through the Lens of ‘The Greatest’

By Neelay Bhatt

W

hat do the former president of the United States, a Hollywood A-List star, a retired law enforcement officer from Washington, D.C., a neurosurgeon from Philadelphia, a college student from Boston, a homeless person from Louisville and an NRPA board member from Indianapolis have in common? We all recently found ourselves in Louisville to pay our last respects to the man simply known as “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali. On Success As a three-time World Heavyweight Champion and an Olympic gold medalist (Rome 1960), by any measure of success, Ali was an incredibly successful boxer.

But, was he really “The Greatest?” Statistically, he didn’t possess an undefeated record like Rocky Marciano or Floyd Mayweather Jr., nor was he the only three-time champion or a gold medal recipient. Yet, witnessing a global outpouring of grief and praise left no doubt that he was considered second-to-none. Ask people who revered him and they will tell you that this mourning was not just for Ali, the boxer, but for Ali, the person. People didn’t con-

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sider him “The Greatest” simply for the knockouts in the ring, but for what he did in life outside the ring including the 35plus years since he left the sport.

My Moment of Zen: What Ali did outside of the sport of boxing, to me, epitomizes the definition of success: making a difference in people’s lives.

On Making a Difference From talking a suicidal man off a ledge to successfully negotiating the release of American hostages from Saddam Hussein, supporting the plight of Sudan’s famine victims, and serving as the U.N. Messenger of Peace in Afghanistan, Ali helped im-

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prove people’s physical, mental and social well-being in tangible and intangible ways.

My Moment of Zen: In so many ways, this is exactly what park and recreation professionals do in our communities.

From teaching a child a life-saving skill to providing meals to hungry individuals, hosting events that bring a diverse community together and simply providing an opportunity for people to get out to a park, trail or playground, we positively impact lives every day! Be sure to remember that any time you compare yourself to someone else or wonder, “Am I really successful?” Anyone can make more money — it’s much harder to make a difference.

On Failure Just like everyone else, I have had my share of failures in life. In fact, some very spectacular failures and losses that often made me question whether I even had it in me anymore to succeed. These ranged from losing

What Will Be Your Greatest Success?

In one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history, at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, Ali served as the surprise guest to light the flame. With his hand shaking because of Parkinson’s disease, the simple 15-second act of holding the torch and lighting the fire seemed akin to fighting Joe Frazier for 15 rounds.

For that one moment, as 3 billion people watched and rooted for him, successfully lighting the flame was Ali’s biggest success.

My Moment of Zen: Seek your “lighting the flame” moment every day. It is not just about the long-term success, but also the little, incremental successes and the lives you positively impact along the way that make it all worthwhile. In Ali’s words, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

Without a doubt, park and recreation professionals have and will continue to pay that rent many times over!

Neelay Bhatt is Vice President at PROS Consulting Inc. and a member of the NRPA Board of Directors (neelay.bhatt@prosconsulting.com).

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the final soccer match (and consequently the undefeated season) of my school career to failing to get into the undergraduate college of my choice, eventually failing in my classes and dropping out of college altogether. Thanks to a misplaced university application, I was also initially rejected by my graduate program at Ohio University, as well as rejected for several internship and job opportunities after graduation. In more than a decade of strategic, master and business planning in my role with PROS Consulting, Inc., I have repeatedly experienced failure when we weren’t selected for projects despite our best efforts. All these failures and losses, though, paled in comparison to losing my father and our family business at the age of 26. Where I am today is thanks to people who believed in me especially when I didn’t believe in myself. The support and words from the wise — “Don’t worry about those who talk behind your back…they are behind you for a reason” — were reminders to keep looking forward. Despite, or rather because of my failures, my journey (including four continents worth of professional experiences, three master’s degrees, two TEDx Talks and one lovable rogue of a son) has turned out just fine.

My Moment of Zen: Personally and on behalf of NRPA’s Board of Directors, we are committed to help the next generation of park and recreation professionals and leaders. However, I highly recommend developing your personal board of directors (eight to 12 individuals) who would serve as your friends, guides, mentors and people who pick you up when you fail. The sudden loss of a loved one also underscored the importance of not chasing material success at the cost of time with dear ones.

The most successful leaders I have seen focus on maintaining a balance between personal and professional lives by taking time away to recharge and rejuvenate themselves.

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Designing recycling receptacles with clear language, strategic color choice and smaller holes to encourage correct sorting greatly increases the likelihood that visitors to a park or recreation facility will recycle appropriately.

Design Is Key to Making Recycling Work

By Alec Cooley

A

result of our “on-the-go” lifestyles is the increased consumption of beverage containers and other recyclables outside the home. In response to this trend, more communities are introducing recycling bins to parks and other public locations where these items are consumed. Besides capturing recyclables otherwise destined for the landfill, these communities are motivated by the potential of public-area recycling to reinforce the same behavior in the home and other settings, as well as the ability to project a positive community image to visitors.

Any park manager knows, however, that collecting recyclables is not simply a matter of setting out bins. Beyond capital and operational expenses, there is the significant challenge of getting people to use the bins properly. Cans and bottles can end up in the trash and worse, recycling bins can contain so much trash that recycling companies won’t accept the material. The take-away message for some is that people aren’t willing to recycle.

Research and the experiences of many communities indicate the opposite is true.

Given the opportunity, most people are inclined to recycle. The larger lesson should

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be that recycling outcomes are aligned to predictable design and management inputs like any other facility operation.

While the 15-20 percent of people shown to have strong environmental beliefs will go out of their way to recycle an item correctly, multiple studies have demonstrated the key to getting most people to recycle is to remove the two greatest barriers that prevent them from doing so: confusion about what to recycle and lack of convenience.

Research conducted by Keep America Beautiful (KAB) in 2009 showed only 12 percent of surveyed public locations had infrastructure to recover recyclable

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items. This lack of recycling opportunities is reflected in a separate national survey KAB conducted in 2013, in which 92 percent of respondents said they recycle at home while only 19 percent indicated that they typically recycle in public parks.

Confusion over what and how to recycle is caused in part by the ever-increasing types of packaging and the tendency of each community to independently define what items will be accepted and how to visually identify a recycling bin versus a trash bin (e.g., color and signage). The result is that people have to constantly relearn what and how to recycle wherever they go.

This confusion is compounded by a human characteristic both obvious and widely underappreciated: discarding waste items is neither a priority, nor the primary focus of most people’s attention. This insight is critical to understanding and influencing whether a person correctly places an item in a recycling or trash bin.

Form Versus Function Behavioral studies have demonstrated that waste receptacles must instantly communicate that there is a choice between “recycling” and “trash.” People must also know what items to place where. Failure at either of these two points risks trash and recycling bins being treated interchangeably. Every location has unique considerations that influence how people respond to waste receptacles, including aesthetic concerns, but research and experience point to a number of largely universal design factors that influence correct recycling: “Twin the bin” — Separating recycling and trash bins from each other, even by a few feet, will increase the likelihood of cross contamination. The position of the bins to traffic flow will have a similar effect.

Color matters — Using different col-

ors to distinguish recycling from trash makes clear at a casual glance that there is a choice. A University of Michigan study from 2012 showed that switching from identically colored recycling and trash bins to two different colors increased the recycling rate from 55 percent to 88 percent.

Clear, simple messaging — With peoples’ fleeting attention spans, less is better.

Based on a 2009 recycling feasibility study KAB produced for the National Mall, the National Park Service labeled its recycling bins with a few bold words: “RECYCLE” and “BOTTLES and CANS,” along with a recycling symbol and images of cans and plastic bottles. KAB is currently conducting research to better understand how people respond to specific messages and graphics in different settings.

Restrictive lids — Smaller openings

that require users to consciously navigate an item into the bin reduce the likelihood of them casually tossing an item into the first hole they see.

Consistency — While there is no national standard for coloring, wording or listing of acceptable items collected for recycling, facility managers can minimize confusion by harmonizing these factors within a facility or park and with other recycling programs in the surrounding community.

To download a KAB best-practices guide detailing these and other design tips for recycling in public spaces, and to learn about available infrastructure grants, visit www.kab.org.

Alec Cooley is the Director, Recycling Programs, at Keep America Beautiful (acooley@kab.org).

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Returning Youth Sports to the Kids

By Joseph Lovell

W

e have all seen the overly aggressive coach on the sideline and the opinionated parent in the stands. While these situations were rare in years past, they seem to be the norm in youth sports today. As a society, we are now seeing the fallout of these behaviors and the impact it is having on our youth.

Multiple research studies indicate that only 40 percent of today’s youth are participating in sports. This is a sharp decline from a decade ago when youth sports participation was around 60 percent. Additional studies indicate 70 percent of participants are dropping out by the age of 13. These statistics are concerning when you consider the impact not participating in sports can have on the health and wellness of future generations. As John O’Sullivan, CEO of the Changing the Game Project, often states, “This isn’t a sports issue. This is a wellness issue.” As health and wellness is one of NRPA’s Three Pillars, recreation professionals can have a significant impact

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on improving youth sports and, thus, improving children’s health.

What Kids Want While some of the decline in participation can be attributed to the rise of electronics and fewer physical activity opportunities in schools, there are internal factors professionals need to consider. For the past 20 years, unstructured play has declined and has been replaced with a highly structured and competitive sports culture. This culture is further cultivated by coaches and parents pushing youth to specialize in a single sport. The idea of playing just for fun is disappearing. This is a direct contrast

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to why children want to play sports. According to a recent study from George Washington University, nine out of 10 athletes cite “having fun” as the No. 1 reason for participating in sports. These findings are further validated by a Michigan State University study that found the top two reasons youth drop out of a sport were due to being uninterested and not having fun.

It’s time to return the game to what kids want by designing experiences that are fun and engaging. Based on The Aspen Institute’s Project Play, what kids want from sports is to create social bonds and have access to the action. The best way for coaches to accomplish these wants is to treat players with respect, provide equitable playing time and have fun in practice with opportunities of unstructured play. Dr. Tom Tutko, professor of psychology at California’s San Jose State University and co-director of the Insti-

tute for the Study of Athletic Motivation, states, “If children go to practice, perform painful drills and improve their skills but have no fun, and if the coach constantly hammers at their mistakes, after a while, they are going to think, ‘Do I really want to be here?’”

The Challenge for Parks and Recreation Recreation professionals are responsible for creating an environment where youth can learn skills, improve their health and have fun. This process begins with an internal analysis of youth sport programs.

It’s common for the parks and recreation department to have a general mission statement, but, as youth sports continues to be a polarizing component of society, a mission statement for youth sport programs may be needed. By-laws outlining the purpose and rules of youth sports, a code of conduct, and coach and parent responsibilities should be created to support the mission statement.

As recreation professionals strive to communicate a better purpose in youth sports, slogans such as “More than an Athlete,” “FUNdamental Sports” and “Asset Players” are being developed.

These types of slogans and other signage now decorate the entrance of gymnasiums and outdoor athletic complexes as well as T-shirts and car stickers. They serve as reminders to parents, coaches and athletes of the purpose of playing youth sports and encourage those involved to know their role in sports: players play, coaches coach, officials officiate and parents cheer. The challenge for recreation professionals is to help coaches and parents keep the focus on fun and youth development.

There are roughly 3.5 million coaches in youth sports today. The vast majority of them are volunteers who lack the necessary preparation to coach. Volunteer coaches are usually split between those who played the game and were success

ful or those who don’t know the fundamentals. Coaches who’ve played the game know a lot about it but often know little about children and youth development. Children need autonomy, enjoyment and confidence in order to progress in any activity. Therefore, the coach’s job is to facilitate and allow those elements to exist. This means it is the recreation professional’s job to effectively train volunteer coaches.

In today’s digital age, recreation professionals have unrestricted access to a plethora of coaching manuals, videos and philosophies to implement within the department. It may be as simple as providing coaching manuals with the rules of the game and simple practice drills or just teaching the difference between encouragement and yelling.

It may take time to develop, but it may be one of the most important things we commit to doing. Recreation professionals’ responsibility should not end with training coaches but should extend to educating parents. Consider creating a partnership of parents and leaders of athletic youth (PLAY). This is more than just signing a code of conduct. It’s holding parents accountable to help improve the youth sports environment of their child’s team, and by extension, the entire league. When the coach, parents and rec-

reation professional all focus on positive youth development, the athletes are the winners.

When youth sports provide fun and active experiences, the byproduct will be healthy development for children. A recent study on the relationship between youth sport participation and wellness in young adulthood, found adults who engaged in positive youth sporting experiences had significantly higher wellness scores than those who did not participate in youth sports. Youth sports should provide opportunities for children to develop physical activity habits, improve social skills and have confidence in their abilities to succeed.

Being able to succeed in sports is vital, but succeeding does not necessarily mean winning. It also means succeeding in developing friendships, improving athletic skills or being a good sport when the team wins and losses. Recreation professionals have the opportunity to increase participation by helping children develop lifelong habits that embrace physical, emotional and social wellness. It starts by giving sports back to the kids.

Joseph Lovell is an Assistant Professor in the Recreation Management program at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah (joseph.lovell@ dixie.edu).

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Mike Greener for GreenLatinos and Earthjustice

SOCIAL EQUITY

Attendees at the 2016 National GreenLatinos Summit at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

GreenLatinos Host Historic National Summit at Grand Teton National Park

By Mark Magaña and Robert García

G

GreenLatinos organized the meeting against the backdrop of the majestic Teton Mountains and the beautiful Snake River to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and to support diversifying access to parks and green space in the next 100 years. The summit featured an impressive lineup of speakers from public, private and government sectors: David Vela, the first Latino Senior Executive Superintendent of Grand Teton National 36 Parks & Recreation

Park, opened the summit by welcoming GreenLatinos to the 310,000-acre park. Although Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), could not physically be there, she spoke to the group remotely about working with Latino communities on the Clean Power Plan and environmental justice.

The agency will add park access to its online tool EJSCREEN in June, according to other EPA officials.

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Laura Esquivel

reenLatinos, a broad coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing environmental and conservation issues that significantly affect the health and welfare of the Latino community in the United States, established its policy priorities at its 2016 National Summit in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in May. The three-day summit, which convened more than 100 Latino environmental, conservation and social justice leaders from across the nation, included panel presentations, hikes, rafting and casual meals. High-level speakers included leaders from environmental justice and community organizations, national Hispanic organizations and mainstream environmental groups, and government agencies.

Mark Magaña and Robert García at Grand Teton National Park GreenLatinos Summit.

Following his presentation at the summit, keynote speaker Deputy Secretary of the Interior Mike Connor published an opinion piece titled “Public Green Spaces in the United States: A Place for Everyone (www.laopinion. com/2016/06/09/espacios-verdes-publicos-de-estados-unidos-un-lugar-para-todos) about GreenLatinos and park access, climate justice, healthy parks, historical monuments celebrating Cesar Chavez and other leaders of color, and jobs and youth leadership with the NPS on La Opinion website. Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze, who supervises more than 245 million acres of public land nationwide, dropped in for dinner and a talk with attendees. And, when a last minute schedule change prevented Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee who has led efforts to diversify the green movement, from attending, committee staffer Bertha Guerrero spoke on his behalf.

Former Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Ignacia Moreno, also gave comprehensive remarks.

The summit concluded with members selecting policy priorities for the coming year. In the weeks to come, GreenLatinos committees will promulgate action plans on: • Climate change cessation and mitigation • Compliance with civil rights, environmental justice and public participation laws • Public lands designations, protection and access • Solar and renewable energy proliferation • Ocean ecosystems protection and coastal access Climate change and environmental protection are civil rights and moral concerns as much as they are health,

economic and environmental issues. A diverse environmental movement will directly address the rights of communities of color and low-income communities.

Environmental issues are as important to Latino voters as immigration reform, according to a poll by GreenLatinos, EarthJustice and Latino Decisions. Hispanics disproportionately live in areas burdened by pollution, lack of green space and health vulnerabilities, and they are more likely to view climate and the environment as important to them personally. Public lands, including parks, beaches, monuments and recreation areas, are just plain fun and can help cool the air, clean the ground and water, improve health and the economy, and provide habitat protection. Latinos are among the strongest supporters of environmental protections, most willing to pay more for clean energy and the most loyal green voters.

Pope Francis, the first Latino pope, calls for environmental conservation, climate justice, and protection of the poor and underserved. Environmental health problems are particularly problematic for Latinos and climate change threatens the countries of origin of many Latinos.

Through all of this, Latinos know that we can grow the economy and promote human health, the environment and equal justice at the same time.

Substantial investment in the Latino community now will reap political, public policy and real benefits for generations to come. Latino stewardship of the environment reflects longheld cultural tenets based on common sense, economic necessity and good citizenry rather than mainstream environmentalism.

Mark Magaña is President and CEO of GreenLatinos (markmagana@greenlatinos.org).

Robert García is Founding Director and Counsel of The City Project (rgarcia@cityprojectca.org).

About GreenLatinos GreenLatinos is a national nonprofit organization that convenes a broad coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing national, regional and local environmental, natural resource, conservation and justice issues that significantly affect the health, welfare and quality of life of the Latino community in the United States and abroad.

GreenLatinos invites its members to establish collaborative partnerships and networks to improve the environment; protect and promote conservation of land and other natural resources; amplify the voices of minority, low-income and tribal communities; and train, mentor and promote the current and future generations of Latino environmental leaders for the benefit of the Latino community and beyond. GreenLatinos develops and advocates for policies and programs to advance this mission.

To learn more about GreenLatinos and its initiatives, go to www.greenlatinos.org.

About The City Project The City Project is a civil rights and environmental justice nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, California that believes all people should have access to healthy, livable communities. Its mission is to achieve equal justice, democracy and livability for all.

The City Project’s multicultural, Latino-led team works with diverse allies to ensure equal access to healthy green land use through planning by and for the community, climate justice, physical education and schools of hope as centers of their communities, health equity and wellness, and economic vitality for all, including jobs and avoiding displacement as communities become greener and more desirable.

For more information about The City Project, go to www.cityprojectca.org.

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By Roxanne Sutton

The winner

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SUPERHEROES

This theme has manifested itself in many ways this year — discovering the superpowers of a community that rallies together to vote its photo to the top, and learning about some amazing people who are truly superheroes for parks and recreation. Beautiful photographs and inspiring stories will leave you ready to don your cape the next time you’re heading to work for parks and recreation.

A Cover-Worthy Chattahoochee For the second year in a row, NRPA solicited photos from you, our members,

to serve as the cover of the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine. With more than 230 photos submitted, it was a challenge to narrow them down to the top 10 to be put to a public vote. From there, community superpowers took over to generate thousands of votes on the photos. All were great, but only one could make the cover. With more than 1,500 votes, the city of Roswell (Georgia) Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department won the coveted spot with its peaceful and serene image of a crew team gliding down

the Chattahoochee River.

Morgan Rodgers, director of Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department, shared that the photo was actually taken while the NRPA CAPRA accreditation team was touring the Chattahoochee River aboard a riverboat called the “Spirit of Roswell.” According to Rodgers, the city purchased a large amount of property along the river in 2000 in order to preserve the land from being developed. “Now the Chattahoochee River houses over 101 acres of city parkland which includes Roswell

City of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Department, CA

The s r e n n Ru Up

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Riverwalk, boat ramps, fishing docks, blue trails for rafting/canoeing, passive parks and trail connectivity with other bordering communities,” he said.

The photo was taken by Bobbie Daniels, communications manager for the department. She has been with the department for 30 years and considers photography a hobby (one at which she clearly excels). The rowers in the photo are part of the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association — a longtime partner of the department.

Besides capturing a stellar photo for the

cover of our magazine, Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department is a superhero in its own right.

A CAPRA-accredited agency and fourtime finalist for the Gold Medal Award, it is doing some innovative things to bring excellent park and recreation opportunities to its community. The city has declared this summer the “Summer of Fun,” which it kicked off with a ceremonial first pitch from Atlanta Braves legend Tom Glavine.

The “Summer of Fun” initiative includes free outdoor fitness classes, free concerts, human foosball and much more.

The hard work of the department doesn’t go unnoticed, as evidenced by the rave comments left on this photo via Facebook during the contest. A beautiful photo is one thing, but knowing that it represents a city and department that is passionate about parks and recreation makes it inspiring.

See all of the finalists’ photos at tiny. cc/JulyCoverContest.

Roxanne Sutton is NRPA’s Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist (rsutton@nrpa.org).

Scottsdale Parks and Recreation, AZ

Town of Gilbert, AZ

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JUMP

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The Superheroes of Parks and Recreation

n addition to asking for cover photo submissions this year, NRPA also asked members to nominate their park and recreation superhero. With more than 50 nominations, there were many powerful stories. Not being able to print all 50, however, we narrowed them down to the following five people, who have fought for and represent the best in parks and recreation.

Kenny Davis, former councilman and citizen, Steubenville, Ohio Superhero skills: Saving the pool from closure.

If he could have any superpower: The power to convince others to give back to their community.

Kenny Davis has been a longtime advocate and supporter of the Steubenville Parks and Recreation Department.

Davis says his passion for parks and recreation stems from his childhood when he spent the majority of his time playing sports or swimming at the city pool — encouraged in these activities by his single mother of seven children. When faced with budget shortfalls and the closing of the city pool on two separate occasions, he tirelessly worked to raise the funds needed to operate the pool. He rallied the community to keep this important community asset open — and it still is three years later. In addition to saving pools, each year Davis also plays Santa for local youth, not only as part of park and recreation programming, but also on his own time by visiting low-income neighborhoods and spreading holiday joy. Even though his council term is over, Davis has helped to solicit donations and assists with maintenance through the adoption of a park in his neighborhood that he cleans and mows. Davis’ love and passion for the park and recreation profession makes him a true superhero.

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Denise Underwood, head swim coach of Chandler Recreation Swim Team, Chandler, Arizona Superhero skills: Teaching swimming and inspiring thousands of youth.

If she could have any superpower: Super stretch skills to be able to reach across the pool and fix things that need fixing.

When Denise Underwood answered the call for a swim coach in 1990, she joined a program that was barely surviving with access to just one pool to serve 60-80 swimmers. With her guidance, Chandler Recreation was able to grow the program into what it is today — six city-run pools and more than 635 recreational swim team members.

Underwood’s support of parks and recreation is rooted in her knowledge that these services are the bedrock of community amenities because they give residents a multitude of skill sets and benefits that in turn make Chandler greater as a whole. Recently, Underwood attended the city of Chandler aquatic staff orientation with more than 300 lifeguards, instructors, managers and administrative staff. When asked how many people had been coached by Underwood in a summer program or were taught by her in a learn-to-swim class, more than half of the room stood. Students she once instructed now bring their children to her to learn, excited for them to experience the same enjoyment and satisfaction of swimming. This trend is something Underwood considers to be one of her greatest achievements.

Jerry Burgess, CPSI, park maintenance tech coordinator for Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, Beaverton, Oregon Superhero skills: Ensuring safe playgrounds for kids of all ages.

If he could have any superpower: Super sight skills in order to see play parts (and everything else) clearly.

Kara Browning, trails volunteer coordinator at Cleveland Metro Parks, Cleveland, Ohio Superhero skills: Trail building and volunteer coordinator.

If she could have any superpower: Give everyone access and time to experience green spaces daily.

Coordinating trails volunteers is Kara Browning’s (pictured above, right) second career. While practicing medicine for more than 20 years, she started volunteering for Cleveland Metroparks as an avid and sustainable trail builder, trail monitor and trail fundraiser.

In 2016, a part-time paid position was created for her and Browning resigned as a physician to take the job. Now paid for trail work, she has started volunteering in the natural resources department to help with habitat restoration and invasive species control. She sees how trails and resource management can work together and likes to challenge herself to constantly learn new things. Browning sees the connection between the environment and public health and works to bring people together with her quiet charisma. Her passion for parks and recreation has been building since childhood, when a Cleveland Metroparks facility was always within 5 miles of home. She considers Cleveland Metroparks a key component of her general well-being and if she can do something to preserve that resource for others, then it is well worth her time, talent and resources.

In addition to his 36 years of service on Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District’s (THPRD) maintenance team, Jerry Burgess has also volunteered his time to help other park districts complete safe and efficient play equipment installations. Through his involvement in the Oregon Recreation and Park Association’s Maintenance Construction Section, Burgess has coordinated 21 volunteer playground installations throughout the state.

Burgess says his passion for parks and recreation stems from being brought up in parks as a child — his mom always took her children to local parks and his dad took them camping. Burgess shared this passion with his kids and now shares it with his grandchildren. He believes his greatest accomplishment to be installing a full set of playground equipment with just one other person and a backhoe. A favorite part of his job is going into a community and working with the children to decide what their playground is going to look like — he gets to be the bearer of good news.

Karen West, lead consultant of Keep Genesee County Beautiful, Flint, Michigan Superhero skills: Providing safe and clean places to play and recreate through a citywide adopt-a-park program.

If she could have any superpower: Creating one super park system for the whole county and creating an endowment fund that would pay for anything and everything parks need…forever!

In 2010, Karen West was tasked with creating a framework to replace an eroding park and recreation department in Flint, Michigan. She launched a pilot program that included residents adopting a park in their neighborhood and providing basic maintenance.

They started with five park adoptions in 2011 and today have adopted 38 of the city’s 63 parks. This program takes over the work that the city of Flint is no longer able to do because of budget constraints. In a city hit hard by the recession and the recent crisis involving the poisoning of Flint’s public water supply, having clean, safe places to play, recreate and relax are more important than ever and are vital to the wellbeing of the community. Her passion for parks and recreation is rooted in a deep concern about everything that happens in her city. West’s work not only helps maintain parks that increase property values, reduce crime and attract new residents and business, but also engages thousands of volunteers who find and take ownership of “their” city of Flint park.

— Roxanne Sutton, NRPA’s Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist

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PLAY The Power of

Are you getting your daily dose?

By Paula M. Jacoby-Garrett

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onduct an internet search on the definition of play and you find to “engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” Sounds entertaining and fun, but play is much more important than that.

In fact, it has shaped our lives and development as human beings and can make the difference between being a successful, contributing adult or a life behind bars.

Why Play?

Play is part of a biological process that enables children to develop into normal, functioning adults and it’s essential that children engage in it, and engage often.

It is involved in nerve growth and the development of the brain’s cortex and cerebellum. Learning how to discriminate between information, organize thoughts and plan, and the development of feelings and decision-making skills all evolve through individual and group play activities.

“Play is the catalyst that provides all children with the medium to develop creativity while engaging their physical,

cognitive and emotional strength,” says Anne-Marie Spencer, corporate vice president of marketing for GameTime. “It is essential to both brain and character development, so that children can learn how to engage and interact with the world.”

Biologically, “It has evolved over eons in many animal species to promote survival. It shapes the brain and makes animals smarter and more adaptable. In higher animals, it fosters empathy and makes possible complex social groups,” say authors Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan in their 2009 book, Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagi-

nation, and Invigorates the Soul. Children who don’t engage in play activity suffer developmental setbacks and may lack some basic functions for normal adult life. For example, Baylor University researchers observed children with 20-30 percent smaller brain sizes as a result of insufficient play.

The impact of a lack of play can also present itself psychologically with abnormal behavior. Astoundingly, in a study of Texas prison inmates, conducted by Joe Frost, Parker Centennial Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas, it was shown that “90 percent of the murderers showed either the absence of play as children or abnormal play such as bullying, sadism, cruelty to animals and extreme teasing. Seventy-five percent of the drunk drivers had play abnormalities.” These staggering statistics alone

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embodying the idea of free play.”

Providing a variety of opportunities for individualized play as well as group play is important to creating an enriching recreational environment. “Unstructured play is key to a child’s development, and basketball provides a variety of ways to enjoy the game, from shooting hoops in your backyard to a game of horse to a three-on-three tournament,” says NBA Vice President, Youth Basketball Development, David Krichavsky. “The Jr. NBA helps develop youth by teaching the game’s fundamental skills as well as its core values, like teamwork, respect and sportsmanship.”

illustrate the importance and critical nature of play in developing adolescents.

According to Frost, “On no other educational or child development issue is the body of evidence clearer — play is essential to the healthy development of children and to their adaptation to their culture, society and world.” Play is considered so crucial, in fact, that the United Nations High Commission recognized play as a “Human Right” of every child.

Yet, “a variety of factors have reduced play, including a hurried lifestyle, changes in family structure and increased attention to academics and enrichment activities at the expense of recess or free child-centered play,” says Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, MSEd, a professor of pediatrics at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Furthermore, in some underserved communities across the nation, play opportunities aren’t readily available.

How Can Parks and Recreation Address This Need?

The park and recreation community can greatly affect children’s lives by meeting 46 Parks & Recreation

children’s play needs where they can, especially in underserved communities.

Whether through a traditional park, nature center, pool or trail system — encouraging and enhancing play is paramount. However, meeting these needs does have some challenges.

Since their introduction in 1821 in America, playgrounds and their equipment have gone through an evolution of design changes. The increasing cost of materials and maintenance as well as the constant threat of litigation over safety issues has stifled creativity of design. In response, professionals across the industry are working hard to enhance design and encourage diverse play, while maintaining a safe environment.

“Creating inventive, boundary-pushing play equipment and believing in the transformative power of play are central to who we are as a company,” says Greg Harrison, chief marketing officer for Playworld. “We understand the importance of bringing kids together with open-ended play experiences, allowing them to experience meaningful play on their own terms and in their way. There is beauty in the freedom of interpretation, completely

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How Is the NRPA Parks Build Community Initiative Addressing This Issue?

“Play that is beneficial to children is play that is active, creative and social, engaging the body in fine and gross motor development and the mind in negotiation, problem solving, imagination and flexibility,” says Frost. However, in many communities, children lack recreation opportunities close to home. In some cases, parks are in areas that are deemed unsafe and children must be under close adult supervision.

The NRPA Parks Build Community initiative has been working since 2009 to revitalize or establish parks in areas of high need. The Parks Build Community projects have provided play opportunities for youth as well as gathering places for families and communities across the nation. Each year, a park is chosen in the city hosting the NRPA Annual Conference, and members donate time and materials, working together to design and create a safe, enriching play facility for that community.

This year, NRPA is partnered with Great Rivers Greenway to create Trojan Park in Wellston, just north of St. Louis, Missouri. One of the poorest cities in the state, Wellston was greatly impacted by the recession and is working hard to promote community engagement and return to the vibrant, close-knit city that it

once was. Trojan Park will be located on the St. Vincent Greenway, which will extend from Forest Park to the University of Missouri — St. Louis campus. The St. Vincent Greenway will provide walking and biking access to Wellston residents as well as access to public transportation.

For Elizabeth Simons of Great Rivers Greenway, it’s all about play in the community. “Play is powerful! It brings people together, makes them healthier and fosters understanding. This is why I am so excited that the residents of Wellston, Missouri, will soon have a vibrant new park where they can all play together!

The soon-to-be-constructed Trojan Park will transform a vacant lot into a community gathering space where people of all ages can build relationships through games, picnics, festivals and imaginative play on the new playground.”

The community of Wellston has been very involved in the creation of Trojan Park, from the initial discussions on needs, to the design and construction process. “Trojan park will provide a safe, engaging space for residents to be active and interact with one another. Most importantly, the community voice resonates throughout the park from the design to the color of the equipment, which further empowers the community to own this space. We heard loud and clear from the residents that they want safe spaces for the children and youth in their community to be able to congregate and be part of productive activities,” says Vontriece McDowell from Beyond Housing.

“The power of play for this park means much more than physical activity,” McDowell adds. “This space is an asset to the city of Wellston and is a true representation of what comes from an active, engaged community voice that is heard. This will be a vibrant hub for community connectivity and programs that will benefit generations and engage people beyond the city of Wellston.”

A tour of Trojan Park will be offered

during the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in October (visit www.nrpa.org/ Conference2016 for more information).

That’s Just for Kids — Right?

Actually no — the beneficial health effects of play continue to adulthood. While our brains are fully developed as adults and we may not need as much play as a child, the benefits go beyond childhood. “Many studies have demonstrated that people who continue to play games, who continue to explore and learn throughout life, are not only much less prone to dementia and other neurological problems, but are also less likely to get heart disease and other afflictions that seem like they have nothing to do with the brain,” Brown and Vaughan point out.

“Life without play is a grinding, me-

chanical existence organized around doing the things necessary for survival. Play is the stick that stirs the drink. It is the basis of all art, games, books, sports, movies, fashion, fun and wonder — in short, the basis of what we think of as civilization.

Play is the vital essence of life. It is what makes life lively,” they add.

So, whether you are a parent or a park and recreation professional, remember, play is essential for a child’s development, and, furthermore — is not just for kids.

Play is important for adults as well. As Brown and Vaughan explain, “It energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.”

Paula Jacoby-Garrett is a freelance writer located in Las Vegas, Nevada (paula.jacoby. garrett@gmail.com).

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Cutting-Edge Conservation Education Educational offerings in the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference Conservation track feature Zika, climate change and green energy

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resenters at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference are ready to talk about the most pressing concerns facing the park and recreation field today, including those related to conservation. Be it natural habitat restoration, renewable energy, connecting to nature or fighting the spread of Zika virus, education at this year’s Conference has you covered. Below, we’ve highlighted three sessions in the Conservation track to pique your interest — remember, details can change, so for the most up-to-date education schedule, download the NRPA Annual Conference mobile app at www.nrpa.org/mobile-app.

Solar Farms in Parks: Tap into the Sun and Save Money Wednesday, October 5 3 p.m.-4:15 p.m.

Zika: Get the Buzz on Protecting Yourself and Your Communities Thursday, October 6 1 p.m-2:15 p.m.

Solar panels on residential rooftops are becoming a common site across America, but have you thought about a solar farm in your parks? Solar projects help offset rising energy costs, reduce an agency’s “carbon footprint” and responsibly balance resources to meet environmental, social and economic needs.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in Prince George’s County, Maryland, has completed a “Power Purchase Agreement” with a solar contractor that grants the company the right to finance, design, build, operate and maintain a solar project on park property for the exclusive purpose of generating electricity, which will be used for operations and credited back to the agency’s accounts.

This session will provide the details of this highly innovative approach to utilizing renewable energy sources and generating revenue for your park agency.

This summer, the Zika virus stands to be one of the most covered topics in the media. “Zika Panic” may become a very real phenomenon due to its association with serious birth defects. As a public health emergency, Zika has the potential to dramatically affect park agencies.

Fearful residents and elected officials may demand mosquito control immediately. Interestingly, park departments stand at ground zero when it comes to facilities that may be affected by a mosquito-driven Zika outbreak.

This panel-led talk will help you understand many of the issues that face park departments in dealing with the Zika threat. Montgomery County, Maryland, and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina park departments will share their strategies, tips and mistakes made while trying to stay ahead of this potential health emergency.

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Parks: At the Forefront of Climate Change Thursday, October 6 2:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m.

Park agencies play a unique and valuable role in combatting climate change, the greatest challenge of the 21st century. Parks, trails, greenways and open space can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by providing alternative transportation options, sequestering carbon and cooling neighborhoods.

Along shorelines, parks can provide a buffer from sea-level rise. Inland, “climate-smart” parks with native landscaping can absorb stormwater and reduce fire risk along urban boundaries. And, no matter where a park is located, it can improve air and water quality, provide habitat for threatened species and increase the quality of life for nearby residents — especially in densely populated urban areas and disadvantaged communities.

Parks are also an environmental education tool, teaching visitors the importance of our natural world and that it must be protected.

Many of these benefits can be quantified and are among the most cost-effective ways of reducing carbon in the atmosphere. By working with local communities, park agencies can be at the forefront in the fight against climate change.

— Chris Matthews, Mecklenburg County Nature Preserves and Natural Resources; Jai Cole, Maryland-National Capitol Parks and Planning Commission/Montgomery County Department of Parks; Dr. Ana M. Alvarez, East Bay Regional Park District, Oakland, California; and Joseph P. O’Neill, Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, contributed to this article.

2016 Gold Medal Finalists Announced

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he American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with NRPA, is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2016 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. This year’s proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program is Musco Lighting, LLC. Since 1965 the Gold Medal Awards program has served as a testament to the hard work and dedication of agencies that strive to meet the needs of diverse communities. The Gold Medal is a comprehensive award that looks at the many challenges agencies face and how they

are leveraging resources to meet those challenges. The Gold Medal Award Program includes seven classes: five based on population, one for armed forces recreation and one for state park systems in odd-numbered years.

Excitement is building as the 24 Gold

Class I (population 400,001 and over)

• BREC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana • Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland, Ohio • Johnson County Park and Recreation District,

Shawnee Mission, Kansas • Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Class II (population 150,001 – 400,000)

• Arlington Parks and Recreation Department,

Arlington, Texas • Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, Cary, North Carolina • Grand Prairie Park, Arts and Recreation, Grand Prairie, Texas • Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, Beaverton, Oregon

Class III (population 75,001 – 150,000)

• Allen Parks and Recreation Department, Allen, Texas • Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington Heights, Illinois • Mountain View Community Services, Mountain View, California • Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs, Roswell, Georgia

Medal Finalists prepare for the Grand Award announcement during the October 6 Opening General Session at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

Join us in congratulating the 2016 Gold Medal Finalists:

Class IV (population 30,001 – 75,000)

• Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, Bismarck, North Dakota

• Decatur Park District, Decatur, Illinois • Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation, Olympia, Washington

• Willamalane Park and Recreation District, Springfield, Oregon

Class V (population less than 30,000)

• Frankfort Square Park District, Frankford, Illinois • Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, Flossmoor, Illinois • Itasca Park District, Itasca, Illinois • Middleton Public Lands, Recreation & Forestry, Middleton, Wisconsin

Armed Forces Recreation

• Fort Carson, Colorado • Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine • U. S. Army Garrison Fort Riley, Kansas • USCG Base Kodiak, Alaska

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2016 NRPA Annual Conference: Newbie Knowledge

Veteran attendees of NRPA’s signature annual event share their top tips for first-timers

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he NRPA Annual Conference is a huge event. Each year, thousands of members and guests spend up to a week immersing themselves in the latest park and rec gear, education sessions, workshops, networking events and more. For first-time attendees, navigating all the options can be daunting.

To help, we’ve assembled tips from three NRPA members who know their way around the exhibit hall floor. Before heading to St. Louis Oct. 5-8, consider the following advice from Dirk Richwine, superintendent of recreation for the city of Henderson, Nevada; Jay Tryon, CPRP, director of parks and recreation for the town of Indian Trail, North Carolina; and Rod Tarullo, director of the city of Golden, Colorado Parks and Recreation Department. And, for the most up-to-date information on the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference, visit www.nrpa.org/conference2016.

Dirk Richwine Congratulations on attending your first NRPA Annual Conference. There is a lot going on during Conference week 50 Parks & Recreation

— attending the education sessions, the exhibit hall, general sessions and social activities all can make for a very busy week.

To make the most of your Conference experience, the best thing to do is to make a plan of what you want to do there before you go. Parks & Recreation magazine publishes a great pre-Conference issue that will help you organize your schedule.

You can check what educational sessions you want to attend, including the session on attending your first Conference.

Do the same for the exhibit hall. Make sure that you visit the exhibitors that you have a special interest in, but also take time to walk the entire hall and visit as many vendors as possible. Make sure you have room in your suitcase for all the things you will bring back from the exhibit hall.

Don’t forget to attend the different Conference socials. They are a great way to meet fellow professionals and network.

To learn about what’s going on in the area, sign up for one of the many interesting off-site tours showcasing impressive parks and facilities.

If you want stay active, take advantage of the early-morning exercise classes, or the 5K Fun Run. The NRPA Annual Conference is one of the best places to meet members like yourself and build your professional network. Participate in the different net-

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work organizations, especially the Young Professional Network. Attend their functions such as “Take a Student/Young Professional to Lunch” and the YP Social. Get involved and stay connected.

Finally, when you get to the Conference make sure you get one of the free pocket guides that have all the schedules and information you need. There will be many volunteers around the Conference to help with any questions you might have.

Conference week is busy. Take time, learn a lot, meet many new friends and see why what we do is so important.

Most of all, you’ll have a great time!

Jay Tryon The NRPA Conference is quickly approaching and it is time to register and start planning. Not every profession is lucky enough to have a week-long

conference where thousands of people gather to share this passion we all have to improve our communities. During this time there will be hundreds of educational sessions, off-site institutes, networking events, an exhibit hall that looks like Disney World for park and recreation lovers and countless opportunities to learn and share ideas from the best of the best. For many, this may be the first time attending an NRPA Conference, and for those I would like to give you three pieces of advice.

Attend a wide variety of educational sessions. This is a great opportunity to get new ideas for your day-to-day operations and learn unique ways to improve your department. I urge you to go outside the box and attend sessions that help your overall knowledge of the field. If your job is primarily in the athletic department, attend a session on park maintenance or risk management. You never know when you or your department staff may need help in an area and you will always have this knowledge to reflect on. I also recommend spending a few minutes meeting the people you sit next to in the session and introducing yourself to the speaker.

You never know what else you have in common with others in the room and it may (and probably will) lead to longterm connections.

Find a mentor and participate in network opportunities. An excellent option is the “Take a Student/Young Professional to Lunch” program. This is an opportunity that was created to let students and young professionals have an opportunity to arrange a lunch with a distinguished professional. The goal is to give people an opportunity to get paired with someone who has knowledge in a mutual topic and help each professional grow.

Network, network, network. It is one thing that everyone says to do but many people don’t know how or are

scared. Well, I am here to tell you a secret: at Conference it is as easy as saying hello and asking someone where they are from. We are a very special industry in that we share everything and love to borrow programs and ideas from as many departments as possible.

I can assure you that people want to talk to you and people want to learn about what you’re doing and where you are from. These are the same people who you may reach back out to in eight months and ask for the details of a splash pad you discussed or a maintenance management program you want to implement. Therefore, have fun, learn as much as possible and talk to as many professionals as you can and you will surely never forget your first Conference.

Rod Tarullo It has been my privilege and opportunity to attend many NRPA Conferences.

I have found them to be beneficial to my professional development and to my local agency. Here are a few ideas of how to get the most from your first Conference: Pre-planning: Take the time to be-

come familiar with all the awesome information about the Conference available on the NRPA website (www.nrpa. org/conference2016). The Preliminary Program can be quite helpful to assist you in creating your own personal schedule for the week. This should include mapping out educational sessions you don’t want to miss along with networking and social events.

Check out the Pre-Conference Workshops and Off-Site Institutes: These are super opportunities to stretch your Conference experience. The OffSite Institutes have additional expense but are a great way to see facilities and programs that are good examples of the local host area. I have found that these are excellent situations to begin meeting people from all over the country who share common interests. You will be surprised how these early connections continue through the whole Conference. It you are looking for CEUs, these workshops and institutes are an enjoyable, worthwhile way to make significant progress toward your goals.

Utilize the NRPA Mobile App: NRPA puts everything you need for Conference navigation and information (including your pre-planned schedule) right on your phone or tablet (www.nrpa.org/mobile-app). You will want to refer to this information multiple times a day. This is so much easier than hauling around hard-copy paper materials.

Be Early: Any and every event or session is less stressful and more enjoyable if you arrive early. You will find better seats, shorter lines and easier access when you show up on the early side.

Take it all in: Don’t blow off any event because you are tired. You can rest when you get back to work!

— Samantha Bartram, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

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NRPA Update Data-Based Park and Recreation Stories

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hen it comes to telling stories, more often than not the focus is on the words used to relate the tale. In today’s world, however, data is king and, when combined with words, serves to enhance the telling of those stories. How we tell our story is as important as its content, and this sentiment was borne out in the recent NRPA Innovation Lab on “Data-Driven Government and Parks and Recreation,” held in Boston, Massachusetts.

Gathering Data During the Innovation Lab, Chris Cook, Boston Parks and Recreation commissioner, and Nigel Jacob and Kris Carter from the Boston Office of New Urban Mechanics, shared how Boston Parks and Recreation collected data about its parks system, which was then used to inform the department’s programming decisions and support its master planning.

By 2013, a century had passed since a survey of Boston’s parks assets had been undertaken. A daunting task to be sure, but in order to determine (1) what it owned, (2) where those assets were located, and (3) what shape they were in, a new survey of the city’s 330-plus parks was needed. A small team was assembled to undertake this inventory and, during the course of a few summers, a huge amount of data was collected. Boston Parks and Recreation turned to Sasaki Associates, an international, interdisciplinary planning and design firm, to help make sense of the new information.

Sasaki developed a tool to break down data in various ways — such as distance of amenity from the household/people being served — and helped the department to ensure it was making investments equitably across its constituency. The tool also assists with visualization of new spaces, as Boston looks to add more than 53,000 housing units in the coming years.

Park and recreation agencies cited deficits of analytical skills and time, along with lim-

52 Parks & Recreation

ited resources, as significant challenges when it comes to analyzing data. Interestingly, the data-analysis tool used most often by park and recreation departments is already on most computers: Microsoft Excel. Another important consideration, particularly for park and recreation professionals, is that data needs to be kept fresh. It’s not enough to collect data one time: It has to be done on an ongoing basis and kept up to date.

Telling Stories The data has been gathered and analyzed; now, it’s time to share your findings. Cook cautioned against the tendency to only share the good points: “Don’t be afraid to share some of the things you’re not doing so great on,” he says.

Embracing challenges along with accomplishments lets city leadership, employees and residents know an agency is aware of and planning to rectify those issues. The information you’ve collected can also be useful to other organizations that have a vested interest in the well-being of the community, so, when appropriate, be willing to share data with others. They may be able to offer insights that you may not have considered.

One way to quickly share key metrics with stakeholders is through the use of a dashboard. Dashboards provide a quick overview of key performance indicators (KPIs) and help viewers visualize complex data. Boston Parks and Recreation’s met-

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rics flow into a dashboard called CityScore (www.cityofboston.gov/cityscore), a new initiative designed to inform Boston’s mayor and city managers about the overall health of the city at a moment’s notice. Most park and recreation agencies have dashboards that are inward-facing, used to gauge progress on their strategic goals; currently, about one-third of agencies use dashboards to communicate their accomplishments and challenges with the general public.

If you were unable to attend the Boston Innovation Lab but would like to learn more, visit www.nrpa.org/professional-development/e-learning/webinars-archived and select the “Big Data and Technology in Park and Recreation” webinar.

Innovation Lab: Portland The next stop for NRPA’s Innovation Lab is Portland, Oregon, where discussions will focus on social equity. August 3-5, join NRPA and thought leaders from both inside and outside the field for an interactive event designed to help us better understand how park design, policy implementation and program development can influence the way communities are served, the diversity of the workforce and see how Portland has worked to engage community members to create better, more equitable outcomes. Learn more at www.nrpa.org/ innovation-labs.

— Sonia Myrick, Managing Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

ENDS AUGUST 16

OCTOBER 5-8, 2016 | ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

Register by August 16 To save up to $240 on the Full Package Registration

W W W. N R PA . O R G / C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 1 6

NRPA Update

Embracing Data in Operational Decision-Making

By Kevin Roth, Ph.D.

P

ark and recreation agencies are sources of significant opportunity and challenge for their communities. Opportunity in that they provide valuable, high-impact services that improve the lives of the people they serve. Challenge because they frequently operate under tight fiscal constraints that force them to make difficult decisions on how to optimally serve their constituents with finite resources.

Part of the solution is using data as a key element in strategic and day-to-day operational decision-making. A survey presented at the NRPA Innovation Lab in Boston finds nine in 10 park and recreation professionals give either a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale to the level of importance of data in their agency’s strategic and day-to-day operational decision-making.

The embrace of data goes beyond the agency. Mayors, county executives and other jurisdictional leaders also cherish data as a source of valuable insights, a gauge of performance and a mechanism to hold agencies accountable to their constituents. Four out of five park and recreation professionals agree that the leaders of their jurisdiction place

a “high” or “very high” value on using data in strategic and day-to-day operational decision-making.

Survey Says…

Some park and recreation agencies are on the leading edge of data analysis while many others are just getting started. To gain a better understanding of how agencies are embracing data and to identify the greatest challenges, the NRPA research team surveyed directors from urban and larger suburban park and recreation agencies in late April and early May. Fifty-eight directors from these agencies participated in the survey, resulting in a 35 percent response rate.

The survey results show that data

Biggest Challenges Preventing Park and Recreation Agencies from Taking Full Advantage of Data Analysis 70%

support many different functions within a park and recreation agency: master planning (95 percent), capital investment decisions (88 percent) and measuring usage of facilities and participation in programming (88 percent), to name a few. In addition, four in five agencies use data to justify current and/or increased agency funding (82 percent) and to inform programming decisions for facilities (80 percent). Data also helps agencies to better understand their customers and constituents (73 percent), to highlight the positive impact their agency has on the community (71 percent) and to support human resources activities (57 percent).

Park and recreation agencies draw data from a number of sources to inform critical decision-making. At the top of the list are facility usage and program performance data, critical to 93 percent and 91 percent, respectively, of agencies.

Furthermore, organization performance (85 percent) and demographic trends of local residents (83 percent) are either important or very important data to six of seven agencies. In addition, crime and school data are important to 64 percent and 58 percent of agencies, respectively.

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Lack of Time

54 Parks & Recreation

Lack of Analytical Skills Among Agency Staff

Lack of Resources to Access Data (e.g., Data)

Overwhelmed by the Amount of Available Data

Internal Unsure of the Resistance to Use Questions to Ask, Data for the Data to Seek Decision-Making

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Unable to Access Needed Data from External Sources

Data Collection and Analysis Data collection can be a significant challenge in terms of time, cost and other resources. Park and recreation agencies collect data about their constituents through a variety of methods. A vast majority conduct surveys of their residents, whether collected in-house or through a third party (89 percent). Agencies also track the number of users of their facilities through manual (57 percent have staff that count users) and automated methods (40 percent). Beyond counting,

park and recreation agencies use customer engagement tools that collect insights shared by their customers and tap market research data resources to better understand the demographic trends of their populace.

Park and recreation agencies also rely on data collected by other departments and agencies within their jurisdiction, including public works (91 percent), water utilities (86 percent), police/fire (80 percent) and transportation (80 percent). At the same time, agencies are a valuable resource for data that informs decision-making for their jurisdiction.

Virtually all park and recreation agencies (98 percent) share key metrics with their jurisdiction’s administration (e.g., mayor, county executive). The most widely cited consumers of park and recreation agency data are police/fire (91 percent), public works (84 percent), planning (83 percent) and libraries (83 percent).

NRPA also is a valuable data resource to park and recreation agencies. This includes the 2016 NRPA Field Report (powered by PRORAGIS), the NRPA Facility Market Reports, the Economic Impact of Local Parks report and the Americans’ BroadBased Support for Local Recreation and Park Services report. Each of these resources provide park and recreation professionals with valuable data that help them do their job more effectively and efficiently and/or help to make the case for greater investment in park and recreation.

Dashboards Regardless of the source, most park and recreation agencies are analyzing the data in-house, frequently by agency staff that is closest to the programing being studied. Close to nine out of 10 department/program managers perform analysis on their agency’s data while more than half of respondents indicate having dedicated internal staff perform the anal

Park and Recreation Agencies' Use of Dashboards

Currently Maintains a Dashboard

19% 40% 41%

Does Not Maintain a Dashboard

Does Not Maintain a Dashboard, But Plans to Launch One Within the Next Year

ysis. And, the data tool that performs most of the analysis is the one most likely on your computer: Excel or some other spreadsheet, used by 98 percent of park and recreation agencies.

The benefits of data and data analysis are amplified when you are able to communicate key takeaways and insights in a clear, easy-to-understand manner. A number of park and recreation agencies are accomplishing this task through the use of dashboards, which can provide the viewer with a quick glance of key performance indicators or other closely tracked metrics. Forty percent of agencies currently maintain a dashboard that illustrates and communicates key metrics to agency leadership, employees and stakeholders. Another 19 percent of agencies intend to establish a dashboard within the next 12 months.

Many major stakeholders have access to these dashboards: internal stakeholders include agency leadership (95 percent), managers (86 percent) and staff (67 percent); external stakeholders include the jurisdictional leadership (52 percent) and the general public (29 percent). Regardless of who has access to them, dashboards provide an opportunity for the agencies to hold themselves accountable to major goals while also celebrating significant successes.

Even with the increased use of data, there are significant hurdles that park and recreation agencies must overcome in order to take greater advantage of data analysis in their decision-making. Half or more of responding park and recreation professionals indicate a lack of time, analytical skill among agency staff and/or resources to access data (e.g., software) as major challenges inhibiting their agencies from taking greater advantage of data analysis. Twenty-seven percent of them find the amount of data available to be daunting and are unsure where to start, while 25 percent say that there is internal resistance to the use of data for decision-making.

Today, many park and recreation agencies are just scratching the surface on where data can help with critical decision-making. As we look to the future, NRPA will be developing new resources, including conference sessions and webinars, to assist park and recreation professionals in further embracing data.

And, the NRPA Research team will conduct additional studies to generate additional data that improves agency performance and helps tell the park and recreation story.

Kevin Roth, Ph.D., is NRPA’s Vice President of Research (kroth@nrpa.org).

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55

CFO’s Corner

Facing Fears

By Anna Amselle, CPA, MBA, CAE

I

f you don’t ask, the answer is always no. But, what if it could be yes? Fear holds many of us back from doing things we really want to do. Fear of rejection. Fear of ridicule. Fear of looking stupid.

Recently, I tackled one of my own fears — a radio interview. As I move forward in my career, I need to work on developing new skills. For me, this includes speaking and writing. I speak regularly in front of different groups so I don’t get particularly nervous when faced with an opportunity. This one was a new challenge. I would be promoting a program with which I was not intimately involved to an audience I couldn’t see or know. But, I jumped at the chance. Really, who listens to the radio anyway?

I spent the next 24 hours practicing.

I reviewed my talking points. I worked with the staff to do mock interviews. I listened to other similar interviews. Then it was my turn. I channeled my oldest daughter, who loves the theater, and I de-

cided if I was going to do it, I should go big or go home. The first interview went great. The host was very knowledgeable and engaging. The second interview had some technical difficulties, and then we went live. LIVE? That wasn’t part of the

deal, but I chose to rock it anyway. The third one threw me a curveball. The host asked something off-script. Wait, are you even allowed to do that? I don’t know the answer to THAT question! So, I went through it as best I could.

In the end, I survived. I gained valuable experience that will make the next opportunity so much better. Were people laughing at me? Probably not. Did I look stupid? I think I did better than more than half the other people out there and that makes me better than average. Taking the risk makes me a leader.

Anna Amselle is NRPA’s Vice President of Finance and CFO (aamselle@nrpa.org).

Leadership is the capacity

TO TRANSLATE VISION

into reality

Refine your skills at Directors School August 28– September 2, 2016 Oglebay Resort and Conference Center Wheeling, West Virginia

Apply now at www.nrpa.org/Directors 56 Parks & Recreation

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Understanding Participant Waiver/ Releases and Consent Forms

W

aiver/releases and consent forms, properly prepared and obtained, are more than worth the paper on which they are written. They indicate that to participate is a conscious voluntary decision, they have been successful under particular conditions in obtaining summary judgements for the defense, and they are typically required as a condition of sport liability insurance coverage.

Test Your Park and Recreation Knowledge The following question is a sample Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) examination question.

The implementation of appropriate risk management policies and procedures should reduce an agency’s…: A. B. C. D.

Maintenance cost Right of due care Program attractiveness Cost of insurance

Calling all beginning to midlevel professionals! The Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) is the national standard for all park and recreation professionals who want to be at the forefront of their profession. For more information on the CPRP certification program, visit www.nrpa.org/cprp.

Answer: D. Cost of insurance

A waiver/release obtains an acknowledgement that participation involves a risk of injury, even catastrophic injury, and that the participant accepts that risk.

By signing, participants “waive” their right to sue should an injury occur, and thereby “release” the sponsor and its agents from liability for any such injury that should occur. A parent or guardian must also sign a waiver/release if the participant is a minor, and minors are encouraged to sign as well to show an agreement of shared responsibility.

A consent form obtains an acknowledgement and acceptance (again, by parent/guardian as well if a minor) of whatever expectations and prerogatives are stated by the sponsor as terms and conditions for participating, such as emergency medical treatment, drug testing, transportation provided by the sponsor and compliance with the laws of the community.

Either both or neither of these forms may be appropriate in a given context, depending on the following implications for use: 1. Participants (and if a minor, his or her

parents) must be allowed to read and be required to sign all forms before given the privilege of participation.

This may be done once annually as a condition of annual membership and access to the sponsor’s programs, or as a condition of entering a given event.

Signed forms are to be kept and be retrievable “forever.”

2. “Participants” also includes any nonemployee official or volunteer who agrees to assist in the conduct of the program in a preplanned capacity, or who is allowed to enter a restricted area.

3. The form must be readable and understandable to the participant and meet certain state and case law expectations. Properly drafted, the release can extend to ordinary negligence.

4. Waivers/releases and consent forms are not substitutes for good loss-control procedures and participant accident insurance.

NRPA’s sponsored sports insurance programs are made possible by K&K Insurance and include Team Sports Combined Liability and Accident Insurance; Football Combined Liability and Accident Insurance; Instructors and Interns Liability Insurance; Blanket Accident Insurance; Equipment Property Program; and Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance Program. Visit www.nrpainsurance.com for applications and brochures.

Email NRPA Membership Programs Manager Hayley Herzing at hherzing@ nrpa.org with any questions.

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57

NRPA Update

Member Spotlight: Jenny Hagauer

R

oswell, Georgia’s, Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department is having a good Park and Recreation Month. Having clinched Parks & Recreation magazine’s cover photo contest, it’s only fitting we spotlight the agency’s capable Marketing Supervisor, Jenny Hagauer. Beginning her career in the realm of sports events management — and organizing large-scale tournaments in multiple sports, including the U.S. Senior Open, Magic City Classic, SEC Baseball and others — Hagauer eventually identified the passions that drive her career: “events and community outreach.” “I began looking for a local government position that would allow me to work with both. Lucky for me, Roswell and I found each other and it’s been an exciting adventure from the start. I have transitioned from planning events and programs to promoting them, which engages and allows me to use my creative side to support the agency and the community around me. I feel at home in recreation and parks and love having fun at work every day!” We caught up with Hagauer to learn more about her work and efforts in Roswell around Park and Recreation Month: Parks & Recreation magazine: As marketing supervisor, you play a role in promoting Roswell’s many programs and initiatives — what’s been one of your favorite campaigns?

Jenny Hagauer: Within the last year our agency created a Health and Wellness Division to promote active and healthy lifestyles and to encourage our community to go outside and enjoy a park. To inspire activity, we developed the “Free Fitness in the Park” series which is held in greenspaces around the community.

This outdoor program includes yoga, boot camp and Zumba in a group exercise setting.

This campaign is one of my favorites because of the connection it creates between our community and our parks.

“Free Fitness in the Park” is a program that is open to participation from our youngest citizen to our most active adults. I love this part of my job — promoting a free opportunity that enhances the quality of life for my community and endorses a healthy lifestyle. We have found that through this kind of multi-medium promotion, we are able to activate passive park spaces and encourage community involvement with our new Health and Wellness Division.

58 Parks & Recreation

I love this part of my job — promoting a free opportunity that enhances the quality of life for my community and endorses a healthy lifestyle.

P&R: Why does Roswell make such a concerted effort to be involved with Park and Recreation Month?

Hagauer: Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department believes in NRPA’s Three Pillars — Health and Wellness, Social Equity and Conservation. This designated month allows us to highlight our agency’s efforts to promote these essential principles. We believe all active residents are superheroes and that these Three Pillars can be their tools to positively impact Roswell!

With July being extremely hot in Georgia, residents have a tendency to stay indoors instead of participating in outdoor activity. Our hope is that Park and Recreation Month encourages fami-

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lies to unplug from technology and play in our parks!

P&R: Your agency won this year’s Parks & Recreation magazine cover contest — what does the winning photo convey about Roswell Recreation and Parks?

Hagauer: Roswell, a “Premiere Riverside Community,” is known for its gorgeous views of the Chattahoochee River and the numerous recreation opportunities it provides. The photograph captures how important this local landmark is to our community. We allocate a great amount of time and resources to protecting and maintaining its natural beauty. Because of the importance of this natural resource, our community rallied behind this social media campaign and answered our calls to action to secure the win. This demonstrates how connected our citizens are to the agency through our online presence.

We all love the “Hooch” and are so happy to have the opportunity to share this photo with all of your readers.

— Samantha Bartram, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

PARK AND

RECREATION MONTH TOOLKIT NOW AVAILABLE

JULY 2016

WHEN OUR POWERS COMBINE,

WE CHANGE LIVES This July, the Park and Rec Brigade is here to help you discover your super powers at your local parks and recreation. Captain Community, the Green Guardian and the Fit Twins will guide you on your adventure during Park and Recreation Month.

#SUPERJULY WWW.NRPA.ORG/JULY

NRPA Update NRPA is dedicated to providing learning opportunities to advance the development of best practices and resources that make parks and recreation indispensable elements of American communities.

Find out more at www.nrpa.org/education.

NRPA INNOVATION LAB: WHAT PARKS AND RECREATION CAN DO ABOUT EQUITY

Join NRPA and thought leaders from both inside and outside the field August 3-5 in Portland, Oregon, for an interactive event designed to help us better understand how park design, policy implementation and program development can influence the way communities are served. We’ll look closely at workforce diversity and see how Portland has actively engaged community members to create better outcomes. Visit www.nrpa.org/innovation-labs for details.

SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES NRPA Conferences and Schools are forums where the park and recreation community comes together to exchange ideas and information. Register now for these upcoming events. All NRPA Schools are held at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia, unless otherwise indicated.

August 28-September 2, 2016

October 5-8, 2016 - St. Louis, MO

November 6-10, 2016

January 15-20, 2017

January 29 - February 3, 2017

March 12-17, 2017

CPSI PROGRAM

6-8 7-9 12-14 19-21 27-29 27-29 11-13 12-14 19-21 25-27 26-28 31-Nov. 2

Golden, Colorado Berkeley, California Roanoke, Virginia Farmington, New Mexico Griffin, Georgia Hoffmand Estates, Illinois Dublin, Ohio Cerritos, California Camillus, New York Grand Rapids, Michigan Phoenix, Arizona Verona, New Jersey Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

www.nrpa.org/CPSI

60 Parks & Recreation

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AFO PROGRAM The Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) certification is a state-of-the-art certification for pool operators and aquatic facility managers.

SEP

29-31

www.nrpa.org/education

7-8 13-14 26-27 27-28

Sacramento, California Glenn Mills, Pennsylvania Seattle, Washington San Jose, California

OCT

OCT

SEP

AUG

The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification program provides the most comprehensive training on playground safety standards and the credentials to inspect playgrounds for safety compliance.

3-4 9-10 14-16 20-21 25-26

St. Louis, Missouri New Orleans, Louisiana Cheney, Washington Lake Crystal, Minnesota Anaheim, California

www.nrpa.org/AFO

KNOWLEDGE

YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY

USE TO

IMPROVE YOUR AGENCY

November 6-10, 2016 Oglebay Resort and Conference Center Wheeling, West Virginia

Regi st er Now, at w w w. n rp a. org /S M S

Operations Riverfront Renaissance in Nashville

By Michael Giardina

O

n the shores of the Cumberland River, Riverfront Park, an 11-acre civic park, has quickly become a destination for active recreation and enjoyment for residents and visitors in Nashville. The design of the park was inspired by the limestone bluffs and edges of the Cumberland River.

Portions of the park are perched above the river and provide a spectacular view of river activity and the rolling hills. Riverfront Park provides a critical link to Nashville’s greenway system, connecting two existing greenways through downtown — the Rolling Mill Hill greenway to the south and the MetroCenter Levee greenway to the north — and creating a more than 5.5-mile long, continuous paved trail. It also features a 1.5-acre event lawn called the Green and the Ascend Amphitheater.

Until 2004, Riverfront Park was the site of the Nashville Thermal Transfer Plant, the first waste-to-energy facility in the United States. It was environmentally mitigated soon thereafter, and following a master plan commissioned in 2012, it was determined that this, the last

great vestige of open space in downtown Nashville, would be best used as public open space.

“Like so many park projects, we needed to achieve multiple goals,” says Tim Netsch, assistant director, planning division, Metro Parks. “The project fur-

Accentuating the Environment The risk of flooding from the Cumberland River, which inundated the Nashville waterfront in 2010, was a major factor in Riverfront Park’s design. To avoid future cost and disruption, a mile-

Hundreds of Nashville residents and visitors enjoy the outdoors and performances at the Ascend Amphitheater and on the 1.5-acre event lawn, called the Green, in Riverfront Park on the banks of the Cumberland River.

Aerial Innovation 62 Parks & Recreation

thers Metro Parks’ commitment to the Cumberland River as a recreational and natural asset and is the third phase to be completed of a larger Riverfront Development Plan. The space functions as a much-needed neighborhood park for a burgeoning downtown residential community. The outdoor amphitheater needed to rank as one of the world’s best while successfully integrating with intensive daily use as a public park.”

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The space functions as a much-needed neighborhood park for a burgeoning downtown residential community. and product review, Domingo Gonzalez Associates, which designed the architectural lighting, chose an Acclaim Lighting product, selected for its cost-effectiveness, energy-efficiency and durability. Each of the products is also IP66 rated for exterior wet environments. Ac

Matt Carbone

long, tree-lined promenade, that hugs the riverfront and the city seamlessly integrates needed flood walls into the design. Along some portions of the park, the flood wall design provides low stone seat walls where visitors can relax and take in the view.

A number of sustainable features, baked into Riverfront Park’s design, helped it to achieve LEED Gold-certified status from the U.S. Green Building Council: a geothermal heating and cooling system, 2,800 square feet of green roofs, 1,350 square feet of solar panels, a 400,000 gallon rain harvesting tank, and solar mobile phone charging stations for public use, to name a handful.

Riverfront Park’s “green” theme was also carried through in the type of lighting selected to illuminate the park at large as well as for showcasing performances in the Ascend Amphitheater.

The lighting needed to not only provide a safe and inviting experience for nighttime visitors but, in the case of the amphitheater, needed to also allow for a dynamic range of colors and lighting effects that can be synchronized with an event. After an extensive investigation

cording to Nancy Lok, senior associate at Domingo Gonzalez Associates: “Being in Music City, it was very important for us to select the right combination of lighting products. Nashville attracts all genres of music. With a variety of entertainment performing under the lights of the amphitheater, entertainers can create customized lighting schemes to match their shows.”

Completed in July 2015, Riverfront Park has already been deemed a big success. This iconic park is quickly becoming a destination for active recreation and enjoyment for residents who live in all parts of Davidson County, as well as for visitors. The outdoor venue offers people the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and a variety of performances. Already, thousands of residents and visitors have flocked to the park to expe-

Riverfront Park boasts a number of sustainable features, including flood walls that also double as seats where visitors can relax.

rience festivals, concerts, fireworks and other special events under the dramatic lighting scheme.

“The park does everything we hoped it would and then some,” says Netsch.

“Ultimately, it boils down to the experience of the people who visit. Whether they’re here to work out, visit the dog run, go to a concert or relax on the swings as they view the Cumberland River and Nashville skyline, you sense a palpable joy, sense of community and emotional connection. That’s when you know it worked.”

Michael Giardina is a Product Manager at Acclaim Lighting (michael@acclaimlighting.com).

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63

Operations

Regulating Air Quality for Indoor Pools

By Dennis Berkshire

T

he old days of walking into a sports and recreation facility and being hit with the strong smell that indicates the presence of a swimming pool are long gone. As the aquatics industry has grown so has the public’s expectation of a healthy, safe and inviting environment for indoor public swimming. Modern natatoriums (indoor swimming pools) are designed to ensure health and comfort for bathers, spectators, facility staff and the protection of the building and components. The most difficult of these conditions to regulate is the air quality.

Recipe for Good Air Quality The recipe for good air quality is a result of facility and system design, operations and programs in this space. The proper control of water and air temperatures, air relative humidity, air ventilation and pool water chemistry balance will all contribute to the air quality in the natatorium.

Humidity and Air Temperature Patrons are typically more sensitive to humidity than they are air temperature, so trying to achieve a balance of the relative humidity and the natatorium air temperature can be key. To minimize the amount of water evaporation and overall loads to humidity, maintaining air temperatures 1-2 degrees warmer than the pool water temperature is ideal. When the water temperature goes up for pools, such as for instructional and therapeutic pools, the

higher air temperature is not practical for bather comfort. The table contained herein gives examples of the conditions for typical types of swimming pools.

Air Velocity Air movement across the pool water surface is another air quality factor. For bather comfort, it’s best to minimize air movement and any drafts at pool water level. However, for the elimination of chloramine fumes (the chlorine smell in air), greater air movement across the pool water allows chemical off-gassing, preventing foul-smelling air. The greater the air movement across the pool water, however, the higher the water evaporation rate. In general, try to have a maximum air velocity of 20-30 feet per minute to achieve off-gassing and minimize evaporation.

Conditions for Typical Types of Swimming Pools Type of Pool

Air Temp ⁰F

Relative Humidity %

Water Temp ⁰F

Competition

75 to 85

50 to 60

78 to 80

Recreation

80 to 85

50 to 60

82 to 86

Wading

78 to 85

50 to 60

84 to 90

Instructional

80 to 85

50 to 60

84 to 90

Therapy

80 to 85

50 to 60

86 to 94

Spa

80 to 85

50 to 60

100 to 104

64 Parks & Recreation

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In addition to balancing air quality, the rates of off-gassing and evaporation must also be balanced with operating costs. For example, an increase in water temperature from 82 degrees to 84 degrees, will see an almost 10 percent increase in the HVAC energy costs.

Conversely, reducing the HVAC system from six to four air changes per hour will see an almost 20 percent reduction in HVAC energy costs.

The most important aspect of the HVAC system to air quality is the ability to remove the air with the most contaminants from the natatorium. This air is heavier and, therefore, typically is located directly above the pool water. The location of both the supply air and return air HVAC openings to allow this removal to occur can reap huge benefits in air quality. For existing facilities that cannot adjust supply and return openings, large-volume, low-speed, overhead fans can be very helpful.

Water Chemistry Water chemistry balance is the final ingredient in this recipe for good air quality. Maintaining constant break point chlorine levels and/or the use of ultra violet supplemental disinfection to prevent or minimize chloramine formation can contribute greatly to the water and air quality.

The right design and operation of your sports and recreation facility will help everyone to breathe a little easier.

For detailed references to air quality standards discussed in this article, go to www. parksandrecreation.org/2016/July/Regulating-Air-Quality-for-Indoor-Pools.

Dennis Berkshire is President of the Aquatic Design Group (dberkshire@aquaticdesigngroup.com).

Continuing a tradition of leaving the annual conference city a little better, we partnered with Great Rivers Greenway and the city of Wellston, Missouri to transform a vacant lot into a vibrant community park

Join us for the opening ceremony of Trojan Park

10 a.m. Saturday, October 8, 2016

www.nrpa.org/Conference2016

Products Zero Runner Designed to help runners improve performance and enable anyone to run, the ZR8000 offers state-of-the-art design that replicates natural running but eliminates stressful impact that can compromise form, cause fatigue and lead to injuries. Aluminum legs feature lightweight pedals and independent hip and knee joints to customize running motion up to 58 inches. With the smart console, unique stride-tracing technology enables users to monitor their stride throughout workouts for stronger form and better results.

OCTANE FITNESS, 888.628.2634, WWW.OCTANEFITNESS.COM

New Coat Hook Technology The typical rigid washroom coat hook presents a significant risk. The HenkelHook™ was developed with a safety release feature as a solution to this issue in schools, recreation centers, pools, daycare facilities, etc. Many organizations responded by removing rigid hooks from washrooms which created issues of personal hygiene and placement of coats and backpacks when using the washroom. The HenkelHook™ is inexpensive, strong, vandal-resistant, tamper-proof and releases at a certain weight, then automatically resets. The polycarbonate HenkelHook™ incorporates two permanent magnets. Mention this article for 10 percent off pricing. HENKEL DIVERSIFIED INC., 519.641.5872, WWW.HENKELHOOK.COM

Waterpark Combos Quick and Easy Soccer Net Installation Scoremaster’s elite product line now includes a state-of-the-art net fastening system that sets the standard for safety, performance and functionality. The simple flush-mount design and interlocking profile prevents snags and provides fast and easy net installation with a tighter fit. Manufactured using a UV-resistant, high-density polymer, it’s maintenance-free and has no sharp edges for optimal safety. The new net fastening system is a perfect complement to Scoremaster’s line of industry-leading goals and accessories. SCOREMASTER, 888.726.7628, WWW.SCOREMASTER.COM

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Aflex Technology is now making it even easier to transform a location into a destination, following the release of its new inflatable waterpark combos. Expanding on its popular “wipeout”-style Aqua Adventure Series of modular sealed inflatables, Aflex has designed a range of modular waterpark combinations that are suitable for a variety of locations, activities, water depths and age groups. Clients can now select from one of the standard combos for their aquatic location or opt to use one of the combinations as the basis of their waterpark, adding, changing or removing modules as they choose. AFLEX TECHNOLOGY, 011.64.3.546.6747, WWW.AFLEXTECHNOLOGY.COM

Bring Capitol Hill to a Park Near You

And Win A Trip To DC! Do you have an exciting event on your calendar this summer? Make it a Park Champion event by inviting your members of Congress! It’s easy to get started with the Park Champion Advocacy Toolkit.

Host your Park Champion event by August 30th to qualify for the Park Champion of the Year Award.

This year’s winner of the Park Champion of the Year award will receive a plaque, recognition at NRPA’s Annual Conference in St. Louis, and roundtrip flights and lodging for two to travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate for parks and recreation in Spring 2017.

Become a Park Champion and bring Capitol Hill to a park near you! Need help getting started? Reach out to Jayni Rasmussen at jrasmussen@nrpa.org!

Visit www.nrpa.org/Park-Champions to learn more and download the Park Champion Advocacy Toolkit

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Request free information from the manufacturers of the products found in this issue.

I prefer to receive the information via

Mail

Phone

Email____________________________________________________

Name_______________________________________________________________________Phone__________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City_________________________________________________State________________ZIP_______________________________ How does your agency celebrate Park and Recreation Month? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

reader service

YES! I would like free product information!

Please email your answers to dstorm@nrpa.org.

Check the product(s)/company(ies) that you would like information from: AQUATICS Aquatic Recreation Company....... 13 877.632.0503 www.arc4waterplay.com Pentair............................................C3 888.534.7946 www.pentaircommercial.com Vortex............................................. 29 877.586.7839 www.vortex-intl.com Water Odyssey............................... 17 512.392.1155 www.waterodyssey.com ATHLETIC/EXERCISE EQUIPMENT Go Ape............................................ 69 415.553.0769 www.goape.com Soccer5®USA.................................. 25 305.393.5230 www.soccer5usa.com BLEACHERS/ SEATING Fermob USA................................... 15 706.216.6600 www.fermobusa.com Kay Park Recreation...................... 70 800.553.2476 www.kaypark.com Polly Products................................ 70 877.609.2243 www.pollyproducts.com Victor Stanley.................................. 7 800.368.2573 www.victorstanley.com

COMMUNICATIONS Basinger Audio Systems............... 68 877.638.5816 www.portablesound.com BUILDINGS/TENTS/SHELTERS Easi-Set Buildings.......................... 69 866.252.8210 www.easisetbuildings.com Shade Creations by Waterloo....... 23 800.537.1193 www.waterlootent.com Shade Systems™ Inc........................ 1 800.609.6066 www.shadesystemsinc.com/sails GROUNDS MAINTENANCE Superthrive®.................................. 23 800.441.8482 www.superthrive.com PARK PRODUCTS/SERVICES Ameristar Security......................... 33 888.333.3422 www.ameristarsecurity.com Dogipot...................................... 9, 69 800.364.7681 www.dogipot.com Gyms for Dogs — Natural Dog Park Products................................. 31 800.931.1562 www.gymsfordogs.com Most Dependable Fountains........C2 800.552.6331 www.mostdependable.com

Murdock Manufacturing................. 3 800.453.7465 www.murdockmfg.com National Construction Rental....... 70 800.352.5675 www.rentnational.com Paris Equipment Manufacturers LLC............................5 800.387.6318 www.peml.com Pilot Rock®..................................... 27 800.762.5002 www.pilotrock.com Willoughby Industries................... 31 800.428.4065 www.willoughby-ind.com PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT American Swing Products............. 68 800.433.2573 www.americanswing.com PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS Banners.com.................................. 68 320.965.9300 www.banners.com SIGNS/SCOREBOARDS Berntsen ........................................ 68 877.686.8565 www.berntsen.com Scoremaster................................... 70 888.726.7627 www.scoremaster.com SURFACING SofSurfaces....................................C4 800.263.2363 www.sofsurfaces.com

Mail the completed form to Dana Storm at NRPA, 22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA 20148-4501 or email to dstorm@nrpa.org.

(ISSN 0031-2215) is published monthly by the National Recreation and Park Association, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148, a service organization supported by membership dues and voluntary contributions. Copyright ©2016 by the National Recreation and Park Association. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of NRPA. Issued to members at the annual subscription price of $30, included in dues. Subscription: $36 a year in the U.S.; $46 elsewhere. Single copy price: $4.50. Library rate: $48 a year in the U.S.; $58 elsewhere. Periodical postage paid at Ashburn, Virginia, and at additional mailing offices. Editorial and advertising offices at 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148. 703.858.0784. Postmaster, send address changes to Parks & Recreation, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148.

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Park Bench

Weed Busters Because they do best eating weeds rather than grasses and are agile climbers, allowing them to reach vines and stems in otherwise hard-to-reach places, goats are an environmentally friendly and extremely effective tool for controlling the spread of noxious weeds. So, when Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve — a pesticide-free, 700-acre preserve in Leesburg, Virginia, that’s owned by Loudoun County and managed through the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services — needed to control the spread of invasive plants, it turned to goats, which fit in perfectly with its land management practices.

“We here at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve have partnered with Willowsford Farm in ‘Project: Springhouse Restoration!’ The herd of LaMancha, Oberhasli and Nubian goats, located in a fenced-off area, is managing unwanted vegetation naturally — by eating it! This restoration is vitally important because unless invasive plants are managed accordingly, they can take over the landscape, overrun the native plants, threaten important biodiversity and ruin habitat for the native wildlife,” says Julie Paul, the preserve naturalist.

Ron Circé, the preserve manager, and Paul are monitoring the progress, health and success of the herd. “After only three weeks of grazing, these goats have managed to clear almost an acre of the paddock in which they reside. We have had instant gratification and plan on renewing our contract in order to keep the goats through the end of the summer,” says Paul.

Goats are one of the oldest domesticated species, and for centuries have provided humans with milk, meat, hair and skins. They belong to the class of animals called ruminants, characterized by four stomachs and cud-chewing behavior.

They graze all day, while fertilizing in the process, and their narrow, triangular mouths allow them to crush what they eat, so seeds that might otherwise get passed through and put back into next year’s seed bank are no longer viable. Special enzymes in their stomachs allow them to eat plants that are poisonous to other animals. Weeds on the menu for the Banshee Reeks herd include Japanese honeysuckle, autumn olive, mile-a-minute, Japanese stiltgrass, Canada thistle, tree of heaven and multiflora rose.

— Sonia Myrick, Managing Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

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PARKS&RECREATION JULY 2016 ◆ SUPERHEROES OF PARKS AND RECREATION ◆ THE POWER OF PLAY ◆ 2016 NRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE EDUCATION